Brian Bennett on Thursday finished what captain Sikandar Raza started as Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to head into the Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights unbeaten.
Zimbabwe topped Group B which included former champions Sri Lanka and Australia.
Zimbabwe are to meet the West Indies in their Super Eights opener in Mumbai, India, on Monday. Sri Lanka are to host England in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, tomorrow.
Photo: AP
The West Indies also completed the group stage undefeated after dismissing Italy for 123 and winning by 42 runs in Kolkata, India.
Ibrahim Zadran missed out on claiming Afghanistan’s first Men’s T20 World Cup century, finishing 95 not out as Canada was beaten by 82 runs in Chennai, India. Both teams had already failed to advance.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had already booked their Super Eights spots after both dominated Australia, and still entertained. Sri Lanka opted to bat first and notched 178-7, and Zimbabwe overhauled it with 182-4 and three balls to spare.
Photo: AFP
“I don’t think anyone gave us a chance [of reaching the Super Eights],” Zimbabwe captain Raza said. “To win everyone’s hearts and respect, it is a good position to be in. If we can win two out of three games who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story.”
Opening batter Bennett anchored the chase and was unbeaten on 63 off 48. He still has not been dismissed in the World Cup after scoring 48 against Oman and 64 against Australia.
Sri Lanka’s total was held up again by Pathum Nissanka, who backed up his unbeaten 100 against Australia with 62 off 41, including eight fours.
Photo: AFP
Pavan Rathnayake hit two sixes and three fours in a 25-ball 44 to help Sri Lanka to a competitive total.
“We need to be more confident in the field. I felt that is what we lacked today,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said. “Hopefully, we come with a better attitude the next time.”
Italy and the West Indies struggled on what appeared to be a good batting pitch at Eden Gardens.
West Indies captain Shai Hope starred with 75 off 46 balls, his second straight World Cup half-century, and the next-best score was Ben Manenti’s 26 for Italy.
The West Indies defended a sub-par 165.
Italy lost three wickets in the power play thanks to medium-pacer Matthew Forde, and pacer Shamar Joseph limited Italy in the middle and death overs with 4-30. Joseph also took four catches.
Hope kept the West Indies from floundering, opening the batting and hitting four sixes and six fours until he was bowled by Crishan Kalugamage in the 16th over.
In the Super Eights, the West Indies are to face 2024 champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa and Zimbabwe, who knocked out Australia.
“We’ll have to find ways to be more forceful when the crunch time comes,” Hope said. “We have batting depth, but we need to be smart. Need to be clinical with stroke play. Need to capitalize on deliveries. [We’re] in good shape going into the Super Eights.”
Italy finished their maiden World Cup appearance with plaudits after stunning Nepal and narrowly losing to England, Scotland and the West Indies.
Captain Harry Manenti said he was proud of their ability to stay in the fight.
“We haven’t played the perfect game, despite showing promise in moments,” Manenti said. “It’s important for all associate nations to be funded and well looked after, which is tough. If we keep getting support from the ICC, if we get more cricket, we’ll get more competitive. Lack of games have hurt us, [but] the more we play the higher are the chances to close out games like this.”
Zadran said he was not disappointed to miss out on scoring Afghanistan’s first century in a Men’s T20 World Cup.
Zadran’s seventh four finished Afghanistan’s innings on 200-4 and stranded him on a T20 career-best 95 not out from 56 balls.
Dropped on 54, he still achieved Afghanistan’s highest World Cup score, including five sixes.
“To be honest, it [the century] wasn’t in my mind, but we had a discussion before the game, in the circle. Rashid [Khan] said we don’t have a T20 World Cup hundred, do your best, you can get one,” Zadran said.
Canada were limited to 118-8, off-spinner Mohammad Nabi taking 4-7 off four overs, his career best at age 41.
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