Zimbabwe suffered a surprise defeat to Oman in their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up match, a result that will sting, but one that could prove valuable ahead of the real battles to come.
After an encouraging win over the Netherlands in their opening warm-up, the Chevrons were brought back down to earth by a disciplined Omani performance. Oman chased down Zimbabwe’s total with composure, exposing a few areas the hosts will need to tidy up before the tournament begins.
There were, however, some bright moments with the bat for Zimbabwe. Brian Bennett delivered an impressive performance, scoring a quickfire 56 off just 28 balls to give the innings early momentum. Later on, Tashinga Musekiwa added valuable runs in the closing stages, striking 50 off 28 balls to push the total to a more competitive level.
Despite those contributions, Zimbabwe’s batting never quite found the same overall fluency that was on display in the previous match. There were positive individual efforts, but the side still struggled to build the sustained momentum required to post a truly commanding total. Oman’s bowlers kept things tight through the middle overs, preventing the Chevrons from accelerating when it mattered most.
In the chase, Oman showed calmness and structure, rotating the strike well and punishing the loose deliveries. Zimbabwe’s bowlers had their moments, but they were unable to apply sustained pressure or force a collapse, allowing Oman to complete the upset.
While the loss is slightly embarrassing on paper, it has come at the perfect time. Warm-up matches are designed to highlight weaknesses, and this result should sharpen Zimbabwe’s focus heading into the tournament proper.
The Chevrons will now turn their attention to their next fixture, where a more clinical performance will be expected. If anything, this defeat may serve as the reminder they needed that no opposition can be taken lightly on the road to the World Cup.
