Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to move to the top of the Group B points table, powered by standout performances from Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a challenging target of 179, Zimbabwe reached the total with four wickets down in the final over after a commanding start.

Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani piled on the runs from the outset, stitching together a brisk 69-run partnership for the first wicket.

Sri Lanka found the breakthrough in the ninth over when Dunith Wellalage dismissed Marumani, who scored 34 off 26 deliveries, including five fours and a six.

Ryan Burl then walked in and played a quick cameo to ease the pressure, smashing 23 off 12 balls with two fours and a six before being removed by skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Captain Sikandar Raza joined Bennett at the crease and kept the scoreboard ticking with aggressive stroke play, including back-to-back sixes, reducing the equation to 45 runs needed from the final five overs.

The duo added a fiery 50-run stand to put Zimbabwe in a dominant position, with Bennett bringing up his half-century in style.

However, Dushan Hemantha broke the crucial partnership in the 19th over, dismissing Raza after a blistering 45 off 26 balls, studded with two fours and four sixes, leaving Zimbabwe at 167-3 in 18.2 overs.

Hemantha struck again in the same over to remove Tashinga Musekiwa for one, giving Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.

Needing eight runs in the final over, Tony Munyonga sealed the contest with a towering six before handing the strike back to Bennett, who finished unbeaten on 63 off 48 deliveries, including eight fours.

Munyonga remained unbeaten on eight off three balls as Zimbabwe completed a memorable six-wicket victory.

Batting first, Sri Lanka got off to a fiery start as openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka piled on runs with aggressive stroke play, putting early pressure on Zimbabwe’s bowling attack and forging a 54-run partnership for the opening wicket.

However, Perera, who looked set, was dismissed by Blessing Muzarabani after scoring 22 off 14 deliveries, including four boundaries, bringing an end to the opening stand in the fifth over.

Nissanka remained in sublime touch, accumulating runs steadily to register his 19th T20I half-century and propel the team total past the 100-run mark in the 12th over.

Kusal Mendis, batting alongside Nissanka, struggled to rotate the strike and was eventually stumped by Ryan Burl after scoring 14 off 20 deliveries, leaving Sri Lanka at 100-2 in 12.2 overs.

Zimbabwe clawed back into the contest with the prized wicket of Nissanka, who played a vital knock of 62 off 41 deliveries, laced with eight fours, before being dismissed by Graeme Cremer.

Cremer struck again in his next over, removing Kamindu Mendis for seven off five balls, including one four, as Sri Lanka slipped to 123-4 in 15.2 overs.

The hosts continued to lose wickets as Muzarabani picked up his second, dismissing skipper Dasun Shanaka for six off seven deliveries.

Pavan Rathnayake provided late impetus with a brisk 44 off 25 deliveries, featuring three fours and two sixes, but his promising innings was cut short by Brad Evans.

Evans struck again in the same over to remove Dushan Hemantha for a first-ball duck, reducing Sri Lanka to 164-7 in 19 overs.

The innings concluded with Dunith Wellalage unbeaten on 15 off eight deliveries, hitting three fours, while Maheesh Theekshana did not face a ball.

For the Chevrons, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer claimed two wickets apiece, while Ryan Burl chipped in with one.

King Charles’ fondness for his daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, gave royal fans hope of reconciliation between the royal family and the Sussexes.

The monarch’s genuine love and admiration for Prince Harry’s wife during her time in the Palace kind of debunks ‘Duchess Difficult’ claims made by royal aides.

Exploring the bond between Charles and Meghan, royal author Russell Myers said that the King gave her the nickname “Tungsten” due to her strong personality.

In his book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, the royal commentator said, “he [Charles] was very fond of her and in the early days found her charming to be around.”

An insider from the Palace shared, “Meghan was engaging, polite and was clearly in love with his son, so there were certainly no apparent issues he felt the need to address.”

It is important to note that King Charles was praised for walking Meghan down the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

Most recently, a source told Closer that despite Harry and Meghan’s public ‘attacks’ on the firm, the monarch still holds a soft corner for them, sparking hopes of reconciliation.

“Despite everything that’s happened, Charles has not turned his back on Meghan… he believes empathy and basic decency should still apply, he thinks Harry, and by extension Meghan, deserves this,” the report shared. 

• Petitioners’ lawyer maintains case was baseless and fabricated.
• ATC judge approves couple’s bail against surety bonds of Rs10,000 each.
• IHC issues notices to NCCIA over conviction in controversial tweets case.

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in the federal capital on Thursday granted post-arrest bail to lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case related to an alleged scuffle with police.

The couple was arrested by Islamabad police last month for alleged involvement in an altercation outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The case was registered at the Secretariat Police Station.

The applications were heard by ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who approved Imaan and Chattha’s bail against surety bonds of Rs10,000 each.

During the hearing, counsel Riasat Ali Azad argued on behalf of the petitioners, saying that the case was fabricated and surfaced suddenly. He maintained that the FIR had no grounds and was based on a fictitious incident. Even those nominated were unaware of the case, he added.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its verdict and later announced approval of the bail pleas.

It may be noted that the couple will remain behind bars despite the bail, as a district and sessions court in Islamabad also convicted them in a separate case of the controversial tweets last month.

Notices issued in controversial tweets case

In a related development, the IHC issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Imaan and Chattha’s applications against their conviction.

In separate petitions filed in the high court, they had maintained that their convictions were the result of a “patently illegal and arbitrary trial”.

The couple also sought suspension of their sentences and release on bail pending the final decision of the main appeal.

The conviction came just a day after their arrest in the scuffle case last month, when Additional Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka sentenced the husband and wife to a total of 17 years in prison each under different sections related to controversial social media posts.

According to the 22-page written verdict, Mazari and her husband were sentenced to five years in jail each with a fine of Rs5 million each under section 9 of the Peca; sentenced to 10 years each with a fine Rs30 million each under section 10 of the Peca.

Moreover, the couple was also convicted under section 26-A of the Peca and were sentenced to 2 years each with a fine of Rs1 million each.

The two had been booked by the NCCIA under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 and were subsequently indicted on October 30, 2025.

The first information report (FIR) alleges that the couple attempted to incite divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts.