COLOMBO, Feb 19: Brian Bennett’s measured fifty and Sikandar Raza’s raw power propelled Zimbabwe to a facile six-wicket win over a fancied Sri Lanka as the Africans entered the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a clean slate, here on Thursday.
Chasing 179 on a rather sluggish surface, Zimbabwe needed pragmatism and force in equal measure, and those elements were offered to them by Bennett (63 not out, 48 balls) and Raza (45, 26b) respectively.
Zimbabwe scaled down the target in 19.3 overs.
Both the teams have already entered the Super Eights from Group B, and African outfit can be proud their show in the group phase as they also had defeated Australia in an earlier match.
The African side started quite well, reaching 55 for no loss in the Power Play segment, thanks to openers Bennett and Tadi Marumani (34, 26b).
In all, they added 69 runs for the first wicket in 8.3 overs before Marumani fell to Dunith Wellalage, offering the left-arm spinner a return catch.
Ryan Burl ensured that Zimbabwe did not lose the initial momentum, making a quick 12-23 and the highlight was a massive 103-meter six off Wellalage over long-on.
Burl perished to a slower bouncer by pacer Dasun Shanaka but the arrival of Raza changed the complexion of the match.
Bennett reached his fifty in 41 balls but Zimbabwe needed some muscle in their chase. (PTI)
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka: 178-7 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 62; Graeme Cremer 2/27, Blessing Muzarabani 2/38).
Zimbabwe: 182 for 4 in 19.3 overs (Brian Bennett 63, Sikandar Raza 45; Dushan Hemantha 2/36).
West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs to enter Super 8s
KOLKATA, Feb 19: Skipper Shai Hope top-scored with a 46-ball 75 before his bowlers did what was expected of them as West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs to enter the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup as group toppers here on Thursday.
West Indies posted 165 for six in their final Group C fixture and then bundled out Italy for 123 in 18 overs. Shamar Joseph (4/30) and Matthew Forde (3/10) were the top bowlers for the Caribbean side.
Score Board
West Indies: 165/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 75; Crishan Kalugamage 2/25, Ben Manenti 2/37).
Italy: 123 all out in 18 overs (Ben Manenti 26, JJ Smuts 24; Matthew Forde 3/19, Shamar Joseph 4/30). (PTI)
Afghanistan beat Canada by 82 runs
CHENNAI, Feb 19: Afghanistan, powered by a belligerent unbeaten half-century by opener Ibrahim Zadran and a fine bowling display by Mohammad Nabi, defeated Canada by 82 runs in an inconsequential T20 World Cup Group D match here on Thursday.
Sent in to bat, Zadran blazed an unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes, and forged a 95-run third-wicket partnership with Sediqullah Atal (44 off 32) to power Afghanistan to a formidable 200 for 4 in their final match of the tournament.
BRIEF SCORES:
Afghanistan: 200 for 4 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 30, Ibrahim Zadran 95 not out, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3/52).
Canada: 118 for 8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30; Mohammad Nabi 4/7, Rashid Khan 2/19). (PTI)
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