SL vs ZIM: Pathum Nissanka hit a cracking unbeaten 98 off 58 balls as Sri Lanka swept to a commanding nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a crucial Rawalpindi battle between the two.
Chasing 147 for victory, Sri Lanka took just 16.2 overs to seal their first victory on tour, and first T20I win in five games. This was a result that set up a deciding clash against Pakistan, with victory there guaranteeing Sri Lanka a place in the tri-series final.
Sri Lankan Bowlers Restrict Zimbabwe to 146/5
Early in the SL vs ZIM contest, Sri Lanka set the tone with Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga picking two wickets each, both finishing with enviable figures of 2 for 23. Zimbabwe couldn’t accelerate at any stage in the innings and let both promising starts of Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza go in vain.
A late cameo from Ryan Burl offered brief resistance, but 146 was well below par for Zimbabwe against a hungry Sri Lankan side. The match also witnessed the debut of Pavan Rathnayake, who was ultimately not required with the bat thanks to Nissanka’s brilliance.
Nissanka Rediscovered His Best Form
The 107 against India in the Asia Cup was followed by a run of moderate scores for Pathum Nissanka in white-ball cricket. In this crucial outing, though, he delivered when it mattered most.
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Sri Lanka’s powerplay: 64/1 (Nissanka 37 runs)
Middle overs: 73 more runs (Nissanka 51 runs)
Chase finished with a boundary and a towering six.
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Nissanka slammed 11 fours and four sixes, Zimbabwe’s bowlers particularly Richard Ngarava, whose over included several boundaries and three sixes. His last shot, a huge six over backward square leg, came with a hint of frustration he had aimed for a four that might have set him up for a second T20I century.
Theekshana Provides Timely Reminder of His Worth
In 2025, Maheesh Theekshana has had a mixed T20I campaign, but in the match SL vs ZIM, he managed to remind Sri Lanka of his match-winning abilities. Recalled after being benched for the previous game, he made an immediate impact with the new ball.
Removed Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers
Powerplay figures: 2 for 19
Final over: Just four runs conceded.
His accuracy and discipline on a good batting surface highlighted why he remains a key figure in Sri Lanka’s bowling line-up.
Bennett, Raza Carry Zimbabwe’s Batting Yet Again
Across four games in the series, Zimbabwe have scored 581 runs of which Bennett and Raza have contributed a massive 273, or around 46%. In this SL vs ZIM match, they once again anchored Zimbabwe’s innings:
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Bennett kept the run-rate above seven despite Taylor’s struggles.
The middle overs were stabilized with a Bennett and Raza stand of 36 off 30 balls.
At the crease, Zimbabwe looked likely to reach 160, but both fell to Hasaranga in quick succession to halt momentum.
Burl’s Late-Over Burst Saves Zimbabwe from Collapse
The inconsistent Ryan Burl throughout the series provided much-needed acceleration at the end. He smacked 36 off his next 19 deliveries after a slow start to get off 1 off 7, which gave Zimbabwe something to bowl at. Limited support came from Tashinga Musekiwa, however, 6 off 14, and Zimbabwe consequently fell short of their target of 160 or arguably more.
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