SL vs ZIM

6:50 PM local time and IST: Zimbabwe join India, West Indies and South Africa as the only unbeaten teams who will fight it out in the Group 1 of Super 8s. From not qualifying in the 2024 WC to storming into the Super 8s without dropping a game, what a journey this has been. They now move to India for their Super 8s while Sri Lanka will remain in their own country and look to bounce back stronger in the next phase of the tournament. From here, it is time for Sourabh Agrawal to take your leave on behalf of Bidipto Datta and the entire team to take your leave but the third match of the day is well about to start. Afghanistan have been asked to bat first by Canada in Chennai, make sure you catch that. Cheers!

SIkandar Raza (Zimbabwe captain): (Could it get any better) Yes it can get better, if we win the first game of the Super 8. For now, if I bring myself to the present, the effort that the boys have put in, don't think anybody gave us a chance to be were we are today, to win everybody's heart and respect is a wonderful position to be at.

(Chasing on this pitch after losing the toss) All I said to the boys after losing the toss was if we are truly playing good cricket, why does the toss play a huge part in out mindset? I bowled one of the death overs, saw that the finger spinners were not getting anything, there was something in it for the wrist spinners. They had three finger spinnners and one wrist spinner, we could put them under pressure. Yes they got a few more runs towards the end but I came into the changing room and said that they are 10 runs short with the way they started and we should get it done with one over to go. We made it a little tougher for ourselves, credit to how Tony and Benny (Benett) finished it off.

(Quiet confidence in the team) Yes, because we have trained for every situation. We have got the right presonnel to send out at the right time. We changed our batting order 4 times in a small time, Dion was going to walk out but then Burl got a partnership, he got a cameo and then I walked out, Dion pushed back and Musekiwa came up. We have got the roles clear. (

(Change of venues and conditions in Super 8) We take one game at a time, will arrive at the 21st, train on 22nd. The surface will give us a good idea. The game is on 23rd. To get there unbeaten is something to hold our heads high. If we can win two out those three games (in the Super 8), everyone loves an underdog story.

Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka captain): "We had a pretty good start, and, I also think that the score we put up was defendable. Pathum (Nissanka) and Pavan (Rathnayake) played well! The plan was simple, to take wickets up front. But, we couldn't get that start with the ball. However, it sometimes is not easy for the newcomers, but, no excuses. I took a few chances as captain too. It's good to qualify, but, every game is important to win. We could have done better today. We need to be more confident in the field. We will come with a better attitude next time. I must thank each and everyone, hopefully, we go do better in the next round!" 

Sikandar Raza (Player of the Match, 45 runs off only 26 balls): "When I walked out to bat, the openers had laid the foundation. I told myself that I need to middle the ball first. Once that happened, I backed myself and calculated accordingly. I wanted to finish the game, but, it wasn't to be. A shoutout to Brian Bennett here, he is only getting better. He is shouldering responsibility. I'm pretty excited about how we are going about it, but, I do sometimes think too far ahead, however, we are definitely going well." 

6:29 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Zimbabwe (182/4 in 19.3 overs) beat Sri Lanka (179/7 in 20 overs) by 6 wickets

Brian Bennett 63*(48) | Graeme Cremer 2/27(4)
Pathum Nissanka 62(41) | Dushan Hemantha 2/36(4)

Zimbabwe have stunned Sri Lanka, the hosts did not see it coming and neither did the thousands of Sri Lankan fans that gathered at the R Premadasa to witness this encounter. However, the small section of the Zimbabwe fans are over the moon as Zimbabwe storm into the Super 8s unbeaten! Yes, you read it right.

This is Zimbabwe's second highest run chase in Men's T20Is, what a time to produce it. Sri Lanka would have thought that they had enough on the board, 179 was the target and it looked like a very healthy one on this track at the Premadasa but Zimbabwe had other plans

The openers, Bennett and Marumani, laid the perfect platform with a 69-run opening partnership and that came pretty decent time as well, just 8.3 overs as they went toe-to-toe with the rate. Marumani fell but then Burl came in and played a lovely cameo, got Zimbabwe's hopes back but it really was Raza's impetus scoring a whirlwing 26-ball 45 and making sure Zimbabwe did not fall behind. The 20-run 15th over against Hemantha changed it all, Raza did not finish the job but there was a certain Brian Bennett who was at it right from the start.

His second unbeaten fifty, Bennett is yet to be dismissed in the tournament and he fittingly hit the winning runs sending the Zimbabwe fans over the moon

Sri Lanka might want to sit back and reflect now, this result won't make any changes to their Super 8 schedule but their confidence has certainly been dented in front of their home crowd

19.3 Maheesh Theekshana to Brian Bennett, WATCH OUT INDIA, WEST INDIES AND SOUTH AFRICA! ZIMBABWE ARE COMING FOR YOU IN THE SUPER 8s! FOUR RUNS TO END THE MATCH IN STYLE! Good length and around off. Bennett got on to the front foot and drove it on the up, beating cover to his right and mid-off to his left, for a boundary! 

19.2 Maheesh Theekshana to Tony Munyonga, SCORES LEVEL! Good length, slow and around off. Carved on the up to deep backward point, for a single. 

19.1 Maheesh Theekshana to Tony Munyonga, SIX RUNS! TONY MUNYONGA, YOU BEAUTY! Into the pitch on off-and-middle. Clobbered off the back foot over deep mid-wicket! 

18.6 Dushan Hemantha to Tony Munyonga, flighted on middle-stump. Munyonga steps out and spanks it to cover. A slight fumble there allows for a single. 

TAKE A BOW, DASUN SHANAKA! He has hung on to a stunner here, shushes someone with his finger on the lips. Chants of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka echo around Premadasa and this game has taken a drastic turn out of nowhere