Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Zimbabwe marked their return to the T20 World Cup in a confident way by registering a commanding eight-wicket victory over Oman at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. After missing out on the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe showed clear intent and fresh energy as they opened their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with an all-round performance that left no doubts about their preparation and focus.
Opting to bowl first, Zimbabwe quickly took control of the match by dismantling Oman’s top order. Oman struggled badly in the powerplay as they slipped to 23 for four, with key batters failing to make an impact. Zimbabwe bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava were outstanding with the new ball, picking up early wickets and putting Oman under constant pressure. Even experienced players like Aamir Kaleem and captain Jatinder Singh could not survive the early onslaught.
The situation worsened for Oman when Sikandar Raza removed Wasim Ali soon after the powerplay, leaving Oman at 27 for five. With most of their top order back in the pavilion and many overs still remaining, Oman found it difficult to recover. Sufyan Mehmood and Vinayak Shukla tried to rebuild the innings with a steady partnership, adding some much-needed runs and resistance in the middle overs.
That brief fightback ended when Brad Evans dismissed Mehmood, who scored 25 runs. Ngarava then returned to claim another wicket by removing Shukla, who made a quick 28. Oman failed to build further partnerships, though a late contribution from Nadeem Khan helped them cross the 100-run mark. Oman eventually finished with a modest total of 103, which always looked below par on the Colombo pitch.
Zimbabwe’s bowling effort was sharp and disciplined throughout the innings. Richard Ngarava finished with three wickets, while Muzarabani and Evans also picked up three wickets each, highlighting Zimbabwe’s depth and balance in their bowling attack.
Chasing 104, Zimbabwe began aggressively as Tadiwanashe Marumani scored a quick 21 off just 11 balls, giving the team early momentum. Although Oman briefly raised hopes with two quick wickets, Zimbabwe remained calm and composed. A strong partnership between Bennett and Brendan Taylor put the chase firmly in Zimbabwe’s control.
Taylor played a steady knock of 31 runs before retiring hurt due to leg discomfort, which will be a small concern for the team. However, Bennett stayed unbeaten with a fluent 48, striking several boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving. Sikandar Raza finished the match in style by hitting the winning boundary, as Zimbabwe reached the target with 39 balls to spare and sealed a dominant victory.
This convincing win over Oman cricket team gives Zimbabwe a confident start and sends a strong message to other teams in the tournament that they are back with renewed belief and purpose.
English
