Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club hosted an electrifying 11th warm-up game for the 2026 T20 World Cup, where Oman clinched a tense four-wicket triumph over Zimbabwe. Batting first, Zimbabwe amassed 187 for 7 in their 20 overs, setting a challenging target.
The Zimbabwean openers, Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor, lit up the innings with a rapid 86-run opening partnership in 7.4 overs. Bennett’s aggressive 56 came off 28 balls, featuring three massive sixes and seven boundaries. Taylor scored 26 off 20 before retiring out, but wickets tumbled to leave them 94 for 4.
Dion Myers (26) and Tashinga Musakanda (54 not out off 28, nine boundaries) rescued the innings through a 43-run stand. Oman’s Sufyan Mehmood was the wrecker-in-chief with three scalps, supported by Nadeem Khan’s two and Shah Faisal’s one.
Oman’s chase began steadily with Aamir Kaleem blasting 23 off 11 (two sixes, two fours) alongside Jatinder Singh. The duo added 28 in 2.2 overs. Post Kaleem’s dismissal, Jatinder and Hammad Mirza piled on 79 runs off 42 balls for the second wicket. Mirza made 35 with seven fours.
At 119 for 3 after Jatinder’s retired out 55 (33 balls, eight fours, one six), Karan Sonavale joined Jiten Ramanandi for a match-sealing 41-run partnership. Ramanandi remained not out on 34 off 18 balls (four fours, two sixes), with skipper Vinayak Shukla adding 10. Oman crossed the line in 19.2 overs.
Blessing Muzarabani snared two wickets for Zimbabwe, with Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, and Ryan Burl taking one apiece. Oman’s composure under pressure signals strong form for upcoming challenges.
