In 2021, Ryan Burl posted a photo of his torn cricket boots on social media and asked for sponsorship so Zimbabwean players would not have to glue their boots after each series. The image went viral and soon after, the sports brand Puma took a stand.
Five years later, Burl is trending for very different reasons.
He smashed a 103-metre six against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday, one of the biggest hits of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The knock is currently the third-longest in the tournament, behind only Hardik Pandya’s 109-metre knock against Namibia.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe: MAIN | SCORECARD
Zimbabwe won by six wickets over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium ensured they finished the group stage as winners of Group B. However, their Super 8 qualification was sealed earlier when a rain-affected clash with Ireland secured a point to eliminate Australia.
This campaign marks a strong comeback for a team that failed to qualify for the 2024 edition – and Burl was right at the center of it.
BURL REACHES THE SKY
Burl’s sixth spinner Dunith Wellalage of Sri Lanka was clean and decisive. With Zimbabwe in control of the chase, the blow removed any lingering tension and sealed the result.
Brian Bennett’s composure and skipper Sikandar Raza’s attacking strokeplay shaped the win, but Burl’s strike was the highlight. Batting at number three, he has scored 58 runs at a strike rate of 138.09 at an average of 29 in the group stage.
He has also played with the ball, taking two wickets in three matches at an economy of 8.33, giving Zimbabwe flexibility in both departments.
BURL’S DEFINITION VS V. AUSTRALIA
While Sri Lanka six flooded social media, Burl’s bigger impact probably came against Australia.
Defending 170 against a strong Australian batting line-up, Zimbabwe were under pressure as Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw built a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket. To add to the tension, captain Sikandar Raza had to leave the field due to an injury.
Burl was brought in in Raza’s absence and turned the match around in one match. He dismissed Maxwell and then Marcus Stoinis with successive strikes, disrupting Australia’s momentum and shifting the balance firmly back to Zimbabwe.
This win left Australia relying on other results. When Zimbabwe later secured a point from a rain-affected encounter with Ireland, Australia were mathematically eliminated. A subsequent victory over Sri Lanka confirmed Zimbabwe as group winners.
Now to the Super 8sZimbabwe face West Indies at Wankhede on February 23, India in Chennai on February 26 and South Africa in Delhi on March 1. The challenges ahead are greater, but Zimbabwe have already shown they can deliver on their goals at crucial moments and Ryan Burl has been one of the key reasons why.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 20, 2026