Oman has signaled their readiness for the T20 World Cup 2026 with a high-octane victory over Zimbabwe in their warm-up clash at the Colombo (CCC) grounds. Chasing a formidable target of 188, Oman displayed nerves of steel and aggressive intent to cross the finish line with four wickets and four balls to spare. This result serves as a massive morale booster for the Gulf nation just days before the official tournament begins.
The chase was ignited by captain Aamir Kaleem, whose lightning-fast 23 off just 11 deliveries set the tone. However, the backbone of the innings was a clinical performance by opener Jatinder Singh, who smashed 55 off 33 balls. His 79-run partnership with Hammad Mirza (35) effectively neutralized Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, ensuring Oman stayed ahead of the required run rate throughout the middle overs.
Late Fireworks and Middle-Order Collapses
Despite a solid foundation, the match tightened up in the closing stages. It was Jiten Ramanandi who eventually played the hero’s role, producing a blistering cameo of 34* off 18 balls to guide his team home. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-41, but his efforts weren’t enough to stifle Oman’s depth in the batting department.
Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe’s innings was a tale of two halves. After Oman won the toss and elected to bowl, Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett came out firing, racing to 56 off 28 balls. Alongside Brendan Taylor, he helped propel the team to an 86-run opening stand. However, a sudden collapse saw Zimbabwe slide from a position of dominance to a precarious 94 for 5 within the 11th over, largely thanks to a disciplined spell from Kaleem Mehmood, who finished with impressive figures of 3-22.
Tashinga Musekiwa Rescues the Zimbabwe Innings
Zimbabwe’s total of 187 was only possible due to a resilient knock from Tashinga Musekiwa. Coming in when the team was reeling, Musekiwa hammered an unbeaten 54 off 28 balls. He anchored vital lower-order stands with Dion Myers and Brad Evans to give the Zimbabwe bowlers a fighting total. While the bowlers showed flashes of brilliance—notably Mohammad Nadeem’s 2-26—the total ultimately fell just short against a determined Omani side.
The two teams won’t have much time to reflect on this result in isolation. In a twist of scheduling, Oman and Zimbabwe are set to face off again on February 9 at the Colombo (SSC) for their official opening match of the T20 World Cup. With Oman holding the psychological edge following this successful chase, the upcoming rematch promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the group stage.
