Zimbabwe have booked their place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a significant achievement that few would have confidently predicted just weeks ago.
Doubts had started to creep in during the warm-up phase when the Chevrons suffered a surprise four-wicket defeat to Oman, a nation not traditionally regarded as a major force in world cricket. The result raised questions among supporters and pundits about Zimbabwe’s readiness for the tournament.
However, the Chevrons responded in emphatic fashion when the two sides met again in the group stage. Zimbabwe dominated the rematch, securing a convincing eight-wicket victory to reassert their authority and restore belief within the camp.
Confidence continued to grow when they faced Australia, one of the most in-form and dangerous teams in the competition. In what will go down as one of Zimbabwe’s finest T20 performances, the Chevrons produced a stunning upset, beating Australia by 23 runs by bowling them out to seal a famous win.
Those back-to-back victories put Zimbabwe firmly in control of their destiny heading into the final group match against Ireland. A win would guarantee a place in the Super 8, while Sri Lanka had already secured qualification from the group. Still, many fans remained cautious, remembering past tournaments where promising positions had slipped away.
In the end, the weather in Kandy had the final say. Rain forced the match against Ireland to be abandoned without a ball bowled, and the single point was enough to send Zimbabwe through to the Super 8.
The Chevrons now look ahead to a challenging next phase, where they will face the West Indies on 23 February, India on 26 February, and South Africa on 1 March. It promises to be a stern test, but Zimbabwe have already shown they are capable of upsetting the odds.
Attached below is the Fanzone cricket special where cricket analyst Dean du Plessis and former Chevrons cricketer Edward Rainsford, join Sips and Steve to break down the Chevrons’ victory over Australia. There’s also footage of fans celebrating Zimbabwe going through to the Super 8.
The moment Raza shook hands to signify match abandonment and Zim progression to Super 8
Zimbabwean fans celebrating the progression to the Super 8
