ZIM vs WI : Akeal Hosein’s magic ball ends Brian Bennett’s dream run in T20 World Cup 2026

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The Wankhede Stadium witnessed a historic moment on Monday, February 23, as Zimbabwe‘s young prodigy Brian Bennett was finally dismissed for the first time in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Entering the Super 8 clash against the West Indies with a staggering unbeaten streak, Bennett’s luck ran out against a world-class piece of left-arm spin from Akeal Hosein. Chasing a monumental target of 255, the Zimbabwean opener was cleaned up by a delivery that has already been labeled the ‘ball of the tournament.’ The dismissal not only ended a remarkable individual run but also signaled the beginning of a catastrophic Powerplay for the Zimbabwe, who found themselves reeling under the scoreboard pressure of a record-breaking West Indian total.

The dismissal occurred on the very first ball of the third over, delivered at a precise 85.4 kph. Akeal Hosein produced a classic “ripper” that drifted in toward the leg stump, dipped sharply to deceive the batter in flight, and then gripped the surface to spin away with venom. Bennett, attempting to maintain his aggressive intent by swinging across the line, was completely beaten by the lateral movement. The ball bypassed the outside edge and crashed into the top of the off-stump, leaving the Wankhede crowd in awe. Up until this delivery, Bennett had amassed 175 runs in the competition without losing his wicket once, making this ‘Timber!’ moment one of the most significant highlights of the Super 8 stage.

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The wicket of Bennett could be the final nail in the coffin for a chase that is already considered ‘impossible.’ Earlier in the evening, the West Indies produced a record-breaking batting performance to pile up 254/6, the highest total of this World Cup and the second-highest in the history of the T20 World Cup. The carnage was spearheaded by Shimron Hetmyer, who smashed a breathtaking 85 off just 34 balls, including seven massive sixes. Hetmyer reached his half-century in a mere 19 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty by a West Indian in the tournament’s history. He was ably supported by former captain Rovman Powell, who hammered 59 off 35, as the pair shared a demoralizing 122-run stand that left the Zimbabwean bowlers completely out of ideas.

The fallout from Bennett’s dismissal was immediate and devastating, as Hosein completed a sensational double-wicket maiden by removing Ryan Burl for a duck just three balls later. With Matthew Forde having already claimed the wicket of Tadiwanashe Marumani, Zimbabwe collapsed to 20/3 in the space of just five deliveries. This result carries massive implications for Team India, as the West Indies’ dominant NRR boost puts immense pressure on the defending champions to win their upcoming fixtures against Zimbabwe and the Windies convincingly. As the Powerplay concluded with Zimbabwe at 47/3, the task ahead for Sikandar Raza‘s men became a matter of survival rather than victory.

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