Zimbabwe Won by 8 Wickets Against Oman – 8th Match, Group B
Zimbabwe delivered a commanding performance, winning by 8 wickets against Oman in the 8th Match of Group B at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. After bowling out Oman for a paltry 103 runs, Zimbabwe chased down the target in just 13.3 overs with 39 balls remaining. Blessing Muzarabani’s devastating 3/16 destroyed Oman’s batting before Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 48 guided the chase in this T20 World Cup 2026 Group B encounter.
Match Result Summary
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Winner | Zimbabwe |
| Margin | 8 wickets |
| Balls Remaining | 39 balls (6.3 overs) |
| Oman Score | 103/10 (19.5 overs) |
| Zimbabwe Score | 106/2 (13.3 overs) |
| Player of Match | Blessing Muzarabani (3/16) |
| Venue | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| Date | February 09, 2026 |
Zimbabwe’s comprehensive victory gives them 2 points in the group stage while Oman remain pointless after this crushing defeat.
How Zimbabwe Won by 8 Wickets
Zimbabwe’s victory was built on two phases: clinical bowling to restrict Oman cheaply, then controlled batting to chase down the modest target with ease.
Victory Blueprint
| Phase | Performance | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling First | Restricted Oman to 103/10 | Set up easy chase |
| Powerplay Defense | 43/2 in 6 overs | Strong start |
| Middle Order Stability | Bennett 48*, Taylor 31 retired hurt | Controlled chase |
| Finish | 106/2 in 13.3 overs | Dominant win with 39 balls spare |
Match-Winning Formula: Muzarabani, Ngarava, and Evans shared 9 wickets to demolish Oman, then Bennett and Taylor batted sensibly to complete the job without panic.
Oman’s Batting Collapse – 103 All Out
Oman’s innings was a disaster from start to finish, with only Vinayak Shukla (28) and Sufyan Mehmood (25) offering any resistance against Zimbabwe’s relentless bowling attack.
Oman Innings Breakdown
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinayak Shukla | 28 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 133.33 | c Taylor b Ngarava |
| Sufyan Mehmood | 25 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 64.10 | c Musekiwa b Evans |
| Nadeem Khan | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 111.11 | c Bennett b Evans |
| Jatinder Singh (C) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | b Muzarabani |
| Aamir Kaleem | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.42 | c Myers b Muzarabani |
| Shah Faisal | 5* | 2 | 1 | 0 | 250.00 | not out |
| Others | 10 runs combined | – | – | – | – | Multiple failures |
Total: 103/10 in 19.5 overs Run Rate: 5.19 runs per over Extras: 7 (lb 5, w 2)
Fall of Wickets – Complete Collapse
The wickets tumbled at regular intervals, with Oman never recovering from early disasters:
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Jatinder Singh | 1.1 |
| 2nd | 8 | Hammad Mirza | 2.2 |
| 3rd | 16 | Aamir Kaleem | 3.3 |
| 4th | 17 | Karan Sonavale | 3.6 |
| 5th | 27 | Wasim Ali | 6.6 |
| 6th | 69 | Vinayak Shukla | 14.1 |
| 7th | 71 | Jiten Ramanandi | 14.6 |
| 8th | 76 | Sufyan Mehmood | 16.2 |
| 9th | 96 | Shakeel Ahmed | 19.1 |
| 10th | 103 | Nadeem Khan | 19.5 |
Powerplay Disaster: Oman scored just 23 runs and lost 4 wickets in the first 6 overs, effectively ending their hopes of posting a competitive total.
Zimbabwe’s Bowling Masterclass
Three bowlers shared the wickets as Zimbabwe’s disciplined attack never allowed Oman any breathing room:
Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 16 | 3 | 4.00 | 15 dot balls, Player of Match |
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 17 | 3 | 4.25 | 16 dot balls, early breakthroughs |
| Brad Evans | 3.5 | 18 | 3 | 4.69 | 12 dot balls, finished innings |
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 | 8 dot balls, middle-over control |
| Brian Bennett | 2 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 | Part-time option |
| Wellington Masakadza | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 | Supporting role |
Muzarabani’s Magic: The Player of the Match’s figures of 3/16 from 4 overs set the tone with early wickets that Oman never recovered from.
Ngarava’s Support: Matching Muzarabani with 3/17, the left-arm pacer maintained pressure throughout.
Evans’s Finish: Completing the rout with 3/18, taking the final three wickets to bowl Oman out.
Combined Economy: All frontline bowlers maintained economies under 5 runs per over, strangling Oman completely.
Zimbabwe’s Chase – Controlled Excellence
Chasing just 104, Zimbabwe approached the task with professionalism despite losing early wickets:
Zimbabwe Batting Performance
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 48* | 36 | 7 | 0 | 133.33 | Not out |
| Brendan Taylor | 31 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 103.33 | Retired hurt |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | 21 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 190.90 | c Wasim b Sufyan |
| Sikandar Raza (C) | 5* | 2 | 1 | 0 | 250.00 | Not out |
| Dion Myers | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Shukla b Sufyan |
Total: 106/2 in 13.3 overs Run Rate: 7.85 runs per over Result: Won by 8 wickets with 39 balls remaining
Key Partnership
3rd Wicket Stand: Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor added 50 runs in 44 balls, taking Zimbabwe from 30/2 to complete control at 80/2.
Bennett’s Innings: The opener’s unbeaten 48 off 36 balls (7 fours) showcased composure and shot selection, never allowing Oman back into the contest.
Taylor’s Contribution: Before retiring hurt at 98/2, Taylor’s 31 off 30 provided stability and ensured the chase stayed on track.
Match-Turning Moments
Muzarabani’s Opening Spell: Removing captain Jatinder Singh in the 2nd over set the tone for Oman’s collapse.
Powerplay Destruction: Four wickets in first 6 overs (23/4) effectively ended the match as a contest.
Bennett-Taylor Partnership: Their calm 50-run stand ensured no late drama in what should have been a straightforward chase.
Taylor’s Retirement: Though retiring hurt at 98/2, his work was already done with victory assured.
Tournament Implications
This comprehensive victory has significant implications for Group B in the T20 World Cup 2026:
Points Table Impact
Zimbabwe:
- First win in Group B
- 2 points earned
- Massive net run rate boost (+2.47 approximately)
- Strong position for qualification
Oman:
- Remain winless
- 0 points
- Net run rate severely damaged
- Qualification hopes take major hit
The points table now shows Zimbabwe in contention while Oman face an uphill battle.
Player of the Match: Blessing Muzarabani
Muzarabani’s Match-Winning Performance:
- Bowling: 3/16 in 4 overs
- Economy: 4.00 runs per over
- Dot Balls: 15 out of 24
- Key Wickets: Captain Jatinder Singh, Aamir Kaleem, Karan Sonavale
- Impact: Set up entire victory with devastating opening spell
Cricinfo MVP: Also earned 62.45 MVP points for his all-round impact on the match.
What This Win Means for Zimbabwe
Momentum Builder: Dominant victory provides confidence boost for upcoming matches
Bowling Strength: Pace trio of Muzarabani, Ngarava, Evans looking lethal
Batting Depth: Despite early wickets, comfortable chase shows squad strength
Net Run Rate: Huge margin helps in potential tiebreaker scenarios
Qualification Path: Strong start keeps knockout hopes very much alive
Oman’s Challenges
Batting Fragility: Total collapse against quality pace bowling exposed
Top Order Failure: Losing 4 wickets in powerplay is unacceptable
Low Total: 103 simply not enough in modern T20 cricket
Recovery Needed: Must regroup quickly for remaining matches
Qualification Pressure: Zero points from opening match increases pressure
Match Statistics
Shortest Innings: Zimbabwe chased in just 13.3 overs (6.3 overs unused)
Wicket Haul: Three bowlers took 3 wickets each for Zimbabwe
Best Economy: Muzarabani and Ngarava both under 4.25 RPO
Highest Score: Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 48
Match Duration: Completed well within scheduled time
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Zimbabwe won by 8 wickets against Oman? Zimbabwe bowled out Oman for 103 runs, then chased down the target scoring 106/2 in just 13.3 overs, winning with 39 balls remaining.
Who was Player of the Match in Zimbabwe vs Oman? Blessing Muzarabani won Player of the Match for his devastating bowling figures of 3/16 in 4 overs that destroyed Oman’s batting.
What was Oman’s total score? Oman scored 103/10 in 19.5 overs, with only Vinayak Shukla (28) and Sufyan Mehmood (25) showing resistance against Zimbabwe’s pace attack.
Who were the top performers for Zimbabwe? Blessing Muzarabani (3/16), Richard Ngarava (3/17), Brad Evans (3/18) with the ball, and Brian Bennett (48*) with the bat were Zimbabwe’s stars.
Where was the match played? The match was played at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 09, 2026.
What happened to Brendan Taylor? Brendan Taylor retired hurt after scoring 31 off 30 balls when Zimbabwe were at 98/2, with victory already assured.
