The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed Zimbabwe dominate Oman in Match 8 at Colombo (SSC) on February 9. Zimbabwe cruised to an 8-wicket win with 39 balls to spare. Blessing Muzarabani’s superb bowling display earned him the Player of the Match award.
For Oman, Vinayak Shukla top-scored with 28 runs off 21 balls. However, Zimbabwe’s bowlers restricted Oman to just 103 runs. Brian Bennett then led the chase with an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls.
Match Summary: OMAN vs ZIM
Here is the complete match summary of this Group B encounter:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Oman Score | 103/10 (19.5 overs) |
| Zimbabwe Score | 106/2 (13.3 overs) |
| Match Result | Zimbabwe won by 8 wickets (with 39 balls remaining) |
| Best Batting (ZIM) | Brian Bennett – 48* off 36 balls (7 fours) |
| Best Batting (OMA) | Vinayak Shukla – 28 off 21 balls (4 fours) |
| Best Bowling (ZIM) | Blessing Muzarabani – 3/16 in 4 overs (Econ: 4.00) |
| Best Bowling (OMA) | Sufyan Mehmood – 2/12 in 3 overs (Econ: 4.00) |
| Player of the Match | Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) |
Oman won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision backfired as Zimbabwe’s pace attack tore through their batting lineup in the powerplay.
Oman Innings: 103/10 in 19.5 Overs
Oman struggled from the start as Zimbabwe’s bowlers struck early. The team lost 4 wickets for just 23 runs in the powerplay. Vinayak Shukla provided some resistance with 28 off 21 balls, including 4 fours. Sufyan Mehmood added 25 off 39 balls.
However, no other batter crossed 20 runs. Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans also picked up 3 wickets each. Oman was bowled out for 103 in 19.5 overs.
Zimbabwe Chase: 106/2 in 13.3 Overs
Zimbabwe’s chase started with quick runs as they scored 43/2 in the powerplay. Brian Bennett anchored the innings with an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls, hitting 7 fours. Brendan Taylor contributed 31 off 30 balls before retiring hurt at 98/2.
Tadiwanashe Marumani added a quick 21 off 11 balls with 5 fours. Sufyan Mehmood was the only successful Oman bowler with 2/12. Zimbabwe reached the target in just 13.3 overs.
Key Highlight: Player Of The Match – Blessing Muzarabani Dominates
The Zimbabwe pacer delivered a match-winning bowling performance:
With the ball: 3/16 in 4 overs (Economy: 4.00)
Muzarabani struck twice in his first over, removing Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh. He later dismissed Hammad Mirza to complete his three-wicket haul. His tight bowling set up Zimbabwe’s comfortable victory.
