In a high-stakes Group B encounter at the SSC in Colombo, Zimbabwe’s bowling unit dismantled Oman’s batting lineup to take full control of the 8th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After electing to field first on a surface that offered assistance to both pace and spin, the Chevrons restricted Oman to a meager 103 all out in 19.5 overs. While the seamers did the early damage, the moment of the match belonged to the veteran talisman, Sikandar Raza.
Sikandar Raza outfoxes Wasim Ali with a beauty in T20 World Cup 2026
The highlight of the first innings was undoubtedly the dismissal of Wasim Ali, a wicket that epitomized the gap in experience between the two sides. Coming into the attack in the 7th over, Zimbabwe captain Raza needed only six balls to leave his mark. On the final delivery of the over, Raza delivered a classic arm ball that drifted in with the air.
Ali, looking to steady a collapsing ship, prodded forward with an open bat face, playing for the turn. However, the ball drifted beautifully in the flight and straightened off the pitch. Beaten for pace and trajectory, the ball zipped through the gap between bat and pad, rattling the timber and sending the off-stump on a walk. Ali was left rooted to the spot, staring at the pitch in disbelief as he departed for 3 off 8 balls. The dismissal left Oman reeling at 27/5, effectively ending any hopes of a competitive total.
Here’s the video:
Too good to handle! 🔥
Sikandar Raza floats it up, beats the bat, and sends the stumps flying!
Ali has no answer to that one! 😮💨 Zimbabwe in complete control. 💪
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #ZIMvOMA | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/sSkJZZDHu0 pic.twitter.com/B1GgwwWihM
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 9, 2026
Also WATCH: Blessing Muzarabani destroys Jatinder Singh’s stumps with a brilliant delivery in T20 World Cup 2026
Zimbabwe folds Oman for a low score in the first innings
Oman’s innings never found its rhythm, largely due to a relentless opening burst from Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava. The Powerplay was a nightmare for the Associate nation, as they managed only 23 runs while losing four crucial wickets. Muzarabani struck early, bowling Jatinder Singh (5) in the second over, while Ngarava removed Hammad Mirza for a duck just five balls later.
By the time the drinks break arrived at the 6-over mark, Oman was gasping at 24/4. A brief, gritty partnership between Sufyan Mehmood (25) and Vinayak Shukla (28) offered a glimmer of hope, pushing the score past the 50-run mark in the 12th over. However, the reintroduction of the pace battery proved too much.
Oman managed to crawl to three figures, reaching 103 thanks to a late boundary from Shah Faisal, but the innings ended with a whimper as Nadeem Khan fell to Evans with one ball remaining. Zimbabwe’s disciplined performance, conceding only 7 extras, leaves them as heavy favourites to chase down the target of 104 and solidify their standing in Group B.
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