Zimbabwe’s quest for redemption and a ticket to the 2026 T20 World Cup began in emphatic fashion at home on Friday, powered by a man-of-the-match performance from young opening batsman Brian Bennett against old rivals Uganda.
Bennett’s blistering 72 off 44 balls, featuring nine boundaries and three towering sixes, anchored the Chevrons' five-wicket victory over the Cranes at Harare Sports Club.
The win was a crucial first step in the ICC Men's Africa T20I Qualifier, avenging a group-stage defeat to Uganda in the last edition that ultimately cost Zimbabwe a place at the 2024 World Cup.
The opener’s innings was marked by both aggression and maturity, expertly navigating the chase of Uganda’s challenging 152/9. Yet, for the rising star, personal glory is secondary to the team’s ultimate objective.
"I think personally my targets are just to win games for Zimbabwe," Bennett stated after the match.
"I think there's no personal milestone I'm looking at. I think if Zimbabwe can win, that's the main goal."
This selfless attitude aligns perfectly with a Zimbabwean side determined to right the wrongs of the past. The victory over Uganda, one of Africa’s representatives at the last World Cup, injected vital confidence and momentum into the campaign.
"Always good to start a tournament like this with a good win under our belt and gives us a lot of confidence to come back into our next game," Bennett noted.
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"But look, there's still a long way to go. We still have to stick to our processes and then hopefully we can win the tournament."
Zimbabwe's bowlers, led by the pace of Blessing Muzarabani (3/20) and Brad Evans (3/19), did an "excellent" job to restrict Uganda, setting up the comfortable chase.
Bennett's quick-fire half-century ensured the pressure never mounted, complemented by veteran Brendan Taylor's anchor role (39 off 27).
The Chevrons, buoyed by the opening victory, are back in action this morning against Botswana.
A win would secure their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare, moving them one step closer to securing one of the two qualification spots for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
For Bennett and Zimbabwe, the focus remains simple: win every game and earn their place back on the global stage.
