Zimbabwe vs Oman Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe beat Oman by 8 wickets

Manic Monday continues - We are done with the second game of the day and so far, we have seen two of the more experienced sides sweep away their opponents, albeit in contrasting fashion. Scotland did it by putting on a mammoth total on the board and then getting the chasing side under pressure. Whereas Zimbabwe laid the foundation with the ball and then chased the low total with ease. The action now moves to Ahmedabad, where South Africa are all set to get their campaign underway against Canada. That game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT but you can switch tabs and join our build-up right away. Cheers!

Sikandar Raza, the captain of Zimbabwe - Sikandar Raza says his bowlers have stepped up whenever he asked them to. On Brendan Taylor, Raza says it is something that happened before, where he went on to play, so he didn't want to risk it. Mentions that Taylor felt it was bad, but they are waiting for the scans to get a clearer picture. Mentions this performance had courage and character from his players and hopes they show the same in the next matches as well.

Jatinder Singh, the captain of Oman - Jatinder Singh says that they simply didn't put enough runs on the board and it was too much to ask from the bowlers. Reckons that they need to have 160-170 runs on any pitch to have a chance of defending it. Shares that they had played a warm-up game, so they were ready for it, but the bounce was pretty different from the game they had played earlier here. Mentions that they can still take a few positives, as the bowlers bowled well and the fielding was decent as well. Informs that as soon as the game got over, they got into a huddle and had a chat about how they can turn things around heading forward.

Let's now hear from the two captains...

Player of the Match - Blessing Muzarabani is the Player of the Match for his fine spell of 4-1-16-3. He says it was nice to get the first win out of the way, and now it's about focusing on the next game. Shares that he is coming from a back injury and was just trying to hit his lengths. Adds there was a bounce and the ball skidded a bit. Admits he won't overthink and will take game-by-game. Acknowledges the challenge they have ahead of them and adds that they will embrace it.

In search of a better effort - Oman have been outclassed today but they will feel that they didn't do justice to themselves with that batting effort. They failed to assess conditions early on and just kept losing wickets in a bunch. It looked like they wouldn't even get to the three-figure mark but a 42-run stand between Vinayak Shukla and Sufyan Mehmood and then some decent striking from Nadeem Khan took them over the 100-run mark. With the ball, they didn't have much to defend and gave away a few boundaries early on. Sufyan Mehmood followed his good work with the blade by picking up two wickets in the same over, giving Oman a glimmer of hope. However, chances were hard to create and all it needed was one decent stand from Zimbabwe to put the game to bed.

All-round effort from Zimbabwe - The win was set up early in the game thanks to that opening burst from the duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava. Both pacers used their height to good effect and extracted extra bounce off the deck, which was deadly. Brad Evans too contributed heavily at the death as the trio of pacers picked up three wickets each. Additionally, some fine fielding also helped Zimbabwe restrict Oman to a meek score of 103 runs. In reply, Tadiwanashe Marumani got Zimbabwe off to a flying start but a double blow in the 4th over just pegged them back a touch. Brian Bennett stood tall at one end and along with the experienced Brendan Taylor, added 68 runs for the third wicket. With just 6 needed for the win, Taylor retired hurt and the skipper, Sikandar Raza, came in and hit the winning runs.

Back on the world stage with a bang - After agonizingly missing out on Qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup and then the 2024 T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe are back, and they have started their campaign with a huge win. Oman were never really in it, with just 103 runs on the board, and have been dealt a hefty defeat here.

Karan Sonavale to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! That is it! Karan Sonavale bowls a length delivery, outside off, too slow, and the batter gets enough time to pick his shot. Sikandar Raza powers it through cover and well wide of long off for a boundary. Zimbabwe win by 8 wickets with more than 6 overs to spare. 

Karan Sonavale to Brian Bennett, Flatter delivery, just outside off, Bennett punches it down to long off for a run. 

Karan Sonavale to Sikandar Raza, Too short and too wide. Sikandar Raza slaps it powerfully to cover. Jatinder Singh gets a hand on it and keeps it down to one.

Shakeel Ahmed to Brian Bennett, Slides it full and onto the pads. Bennett whips it behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs. 100 up for Zimbabwe and they are just a hit away.

Oh, dear! Not a good sign, as Brendan Taylor walks back to the hut, and he is limping. Hopefully, Taylor hasn't pulled a hamstring here. For now, Sikandar Raza comes in to replace him.

Ouch! Brendan Taylor is looking in some discomfort and is unable to continue. A blow to the batting team as Brendan Taylor is retired hurt.

Shakeel Ahmed to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Easy pickings! Bennett moves to 45 and Zimbabwe need 6 more runs to win. Dragged length, touch short and Bennett is quick to pick up, he rocks back and pummels it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shakeel Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, Floats it fuller and on middle, eased down to long on for a single.

Shakeel Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, Good awareness from the batters! Good-length delivery, outside off, Brendan Taylor punches it through point. The fielder in the deep fumbles and the batters are quick to sneak in another run. 

Shakeel Ahmed to Brian Bennett, A good length delivery in front of middle. Bennett nudges it with soft hands to mid-wicket and settles with a run.

Shakeel Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, Drifting into the batter, fuller and on middle, Taylor bunts it to square leg. 

ZIM vs OMA T20 World Cup Live Score: Zimbabwe inch closer to their first win in the tournament

Zimbabwe are in complete control of the chase, needing just 18 runs from 52 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor are guiding the innings with calm, measured batting. Bennett is unbeaten on 39 off 31 balls, striking six fours, while Taylor is steady on 25 off 24, ensuring there are no hiccups after early wickets.

Tadiwanashe Marumani provided a brisk start, scoring 21 off 11 balls with five fours before being dismissed by Sufyan Mehmood. Dion Myers fell for a duck in the same over, giving Oman a brief moment of hope, but Bennett and Taylor rebuilt comfortably with a 56-run partnership, putting Zimbabwe firmly on course for an easy win.

Earlier, Oman were bowled out for 103 in 19.5 overs after Zimbabwe’s bowlers dominated. Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans took three wickets each, dismantling Oman’s batting. Vinayak Shukla (28) and Sufyan Mehmood (25) were the top scorers, with Nadeem Khan adding 20, but the rest of the lineup collapsed cheaply.

With captain Sikandar Raza and several big hitters still to come, Zimbabwe are cruising toward a straightforward victory.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brendan Taylor, Just a single to end but Zimbabwe have the finish line in sight now. Full on middle and leg, worked away in front of square leg for a single.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brian Bennett, Good length on off, holds in the pitch a bit. Bennett hangs back and hits it through the cover region for one more.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brendan Taylor, Fullish length on middle, angling in, flicked around the corner on the leg side for a single.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brendan Taylor, Slower delivery, a floater, full and wide outside off. Taylor reaches out and jams it into the turf as the ball bounces up towards Jatinder Singh at covers.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brendan Taylor, Back of a length, cutting back in from outside off. Taylor looks to punch it with a straight bat but gets an inside edge.

Sufyan Mehmood to Brian Bennett, Fuller than a good length and outside off, Bennett reaches for it and pushes it down to long off for a single.

Sufyan Mehmood (2-0-8-2) is back on.

Nadeem Khan to Brendan Taylor, FOUR! In complete control. Flat and full around off, Brendan Taylor brings out the reverse sweep and gets the hands on top of the bounce, nailing it down through backward point for a boundary. 15 off the over.

Nadeem Khan to Brendan Taylor, A couple of runs for Taylor and the 50-run stand is up between these two. Tossed up, full and around off, stroked away to the right of sweeper cover for a brace.

Nadeem Khan to Brian Bennett, Flatter delivery on middle, punched away off the back foot to long on for a single.

Nadeem Khan to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Well timed and the outfield is lightning quick. Fractionally short and outside off, Bennett waits back well and cuts it down to the left of deep point for another boundary.

Nadeem Khan to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Nicely done. Fuller and straighter, this time Brian Bennett manages to get inside the line and laps it through backward square leg for a boundary.

Nadeem Khan to Brian Bennett, A bit awkward for Bennett. Good length, angled in from outside off. Brian Bennett goes deep and shuffles to the off side to play the lap but gets into a tangle and miscues it to short third.

Zimbabwe are 70/2 after 10 overs. With just 34 runs needed more, it will be interesting to see if Zimbabwe try and attack a bit more.

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Tossed up, on a length and on middle, Bennett strokes it down to long on and retains the strike. 

Wasim Ali to Brendan Taylor, Sticks to the stumps, bowls on the fuller side. Taylor clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brendan Taylor, Flighted, slower in the air and on middle, no turn, this is patted back to the bowler.

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Fires it full and in line of the stumps, Bennett gets inside the line and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brendan Taylor, In-angler, too full and on middle, floated a bit. Brendan Taylor sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Flights it very full and around off, Bennett hits it to long off for a single.

Jiten Ramanandi to Brendan Taylor, FOUR! Oman can't even afford to give away a boundary at this stage. 9 runs off the over. Too full and slightly drifting on leg, Brendan Taylor picks the line and closes the bat face just enough, guides it past short fine leg for a boundary. 

Jiten Ramanandi to Brian Bennett, Touch fuller, attacking the stumps. Bennett tucks it down to long on and rotates the strike.

Jiten Ramanandi to Brendan Taylor, Pace-off, fuller delivery, around off, BT bends forward and drives it to long off for one more.

Jiten Ramanandi to Brian Bennett, Jiten pitches it on the 8-meter length, on top of off, punched down to long off for a single.

Jiten Ramanandi to Brendan Taylor, Short of a good length and on leg, Taylor picks it off the pads and turns it to square leg for a run.

Jiten Ramanandi to Brian Bennett, Bowls a good-length delivery, outside off, Bennett plants his front foot across and knocks it to sweeper cover for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Drops a half tracker, around off, Bennett clears his front leg and pulls, off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brendan Taylor, Wasim Ali gets it to swing in a bit. Around off, Taylor waits and nudges it to square leg for a single. 

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Fractionally short, around off, Bennett rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wasim Ali to Brian Bennett, Slower in the air, flighted a bit and gets it to drift into the batter. Bennett gets inside the line and tickles it to short fine leg.