Chennai: The latest round of matches at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup produced contrasting storylines, with Afghanistan bowing out emphatically, Zimbabwe scripting a dramatic chase against Sri Lanka, and West Indies extending their unbeaten run.
Afghanistan ended their campaign on a high with a commanding 82-run victory over Canada at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 95, powering Afghanistan to 200/4 — their highest total in T20 World Cup history. After early setbacks, Zadran steadied the innings through a crucial 95-run stand with Sediqullah Atal, who struck 44. Afghanistan accelerated sharply at the death, collecting 69 runs from the final five overs.
Canada’s reply never gathered momentum. Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck early, while Mohammad Nabi delivered a devastating spell of 4/7 that dismantled the middle order. Rashid Khan provided strong support with two wickets as Canada were restricted to 118/8. Despite the group-stage exit, Afghanistan finished with back-to-back wins, offering a measure of consolation.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95*, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3-52) beat Canada 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30; Mohammad Nabi 4-7, Rashid Khan 2-19) by 82 runs.
In Colombo, Zimbabwe pulled off one of the most thrilling chases of the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets. Chasing 179 on a sluggish surface, Zimbabwe appeared under pressure before Sikandar Raza’s explosive 45 off 26 balls transformed the contest. Raza launched a calculated assault on Sri Lanka’s spinners, smashing multiple sixes to swing the momentum decisively. Brian Bennett once again impressed, scoring an unbeaten 63 and becoming the first Zimbabwean to register back-to-back half-centuries in T20 World Cups.
Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 178/7, driven by Pathum Nissanka’s fluent 62 and a late flourish from Pavan Rathnayake, who struck 44 off 25 deliveries. Zimbabwe’s spin quartet kept Sri Lanka in check through the middle overs, but the hosts managed a strong finish. Sri Lanka’s bowlers started well in defence, yet Raza’s counterattack and Bennett’s composure ensured Zimbabwe sealed victory in the final over.
Brief Scores:Sri Lanka 178/7 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 62, Pavan Rathnayake 44; Graeme Cremer 2-27) lost to Zimbabwe 182/4 in 19.3 overs (Brian Bennett 63*, Sikandar Raza 45, Tony Muyonga 8*) by 6 wickets
At Eden Gardens in Kolkata, West Indies capped their group-stage fixtures with a comfortable 42-run win over Italy to top the Group C table. Shai Hope led the batting effort with a classy 75 off 46 balls, stabilising the innings after early wickets. A mid-innings wobble threatened to derail West Indies, but Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde added late runs to lift the total to 165/6.
Italy’s chase faltered against disciplined bowling. Matthew Forde’s early breakthroughs set the tone before Shamar Joseph delivered a match-defining performance, claiming 4/30. Joseph also achieved a rare feat by taking four catches in the match, underlining his all-round impact. Italy were eventually bowled out for 123 in 18 overs, as West Indies maintained their unbeaten streak heading into the Super Eights.
Brief scores: West Indies 165/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 75; Crishan Kalugamage 2-25, Ben Manenti 2-37) beat Italy 123 all out in 18 overs (Ben Manenti 26, JJ Smuts 24; Shamar Joseph 4-30, Matthew Forde 3-19) by 42 runs
With the group stage nearing completion, teams are now shifting focus to the Super Eights, where stakes and competition intensity are set to rise sharply.
