Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett has etched his name into the T20I record books with a remarkable achievement that stands out, even in a match where the Chevrons ultimately fell short. His fluent 81 off 57 deliveries, featuring 12 elegantly struck boundaries, now stands as the highest T20I score by any player from a full ICC member without hitting a single six.
That total eclipses the previous mark jointly held by Faf du Plessis (79*) and Babar Azam (79), both stellar names in international cricket. Bennett’s innings elevated Zimbabwe to a respectable 175 for 7 at Harare Sports Club — a total that seemed defendable until Sri Lanka sealed a tense victory in the chase.
Despite Bennett’s elegant strokeplay, his innings ended just 10 runs short of a personal best, undone by a sharply executed yorker that uprooted his stumps.
Though Zimbabwe couldn’t convert his record-breaking knock into a win, Bennett’s feat adds a shimmering highlight to an otherwise disappointing outing. It serves as a reminder of the individual brilliance that Zimbabwean cricket continues to produce, even when team results don’t go their way.
If Zimbabwe is to build confidence and momentum in T20Is, performances like Bennett’s offer a solid foundation — hinting at what might be possible when individual mastery and team execution align perfectly on the field.
