Sri Lanka secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their T20I triangular series clash at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant unbeaten 98 guiding his team home with 22 balls to spare.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe opted to bat first but came under pressure immediately. Tadiwanashe Marumani struck a boundary off the second ball he faced but was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana on the next delivery.
Theekshana struck again soon after, removing Dion Myers for six, leaving Zimbabwe struggling at 17 for two.
Brian Bennett tried to steady the innings, hitting a six and a four off Dasun Shanaka in the fourth over. Brendan Taylor survived two lbw appeals through third-umpire interventions but managed only 14 off 16 balls before edging Shanaka onto his stumps in the eighth over, leaving Zimbabwe at 53 for three.
Sikandar Raza injected momentum with a series of boundaries and survived a dropped catch off a no-ball while on 22. Bennett continued to attack but was dismissed for 34 off 26 balls after mistiming a shot off Wanindu Hasaranga in the 13th over, leaving Zimbabwe at 89 for four.
Raza briefly lifted Zimbabwe’s hopes with a six, bringing up the hundred, but was dismissed soon after for 37 off 29 when he sliced Hasaranga to short third man in the 15th over. Zimbabwe then slipped to 104 for five.
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Ryan Burl found his rhythm late in the innings, striking a six and a four off Shanaka, adding more boundaries against Eshan Malinga, and finishing with 10 runs off the final three deliveries. Tashinga Musekiwa contributed six runs from 14 balls as Zimbabwe closed on 146 for five.
Theekshana and Hasaranga were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with two wickets apiece.
Sri Lanka’s chase was dominated by Nissanka, who started aggressively, hitting Richard Ngarava for three boundaries in an over and following up with four more fours off Tinotenda Maposa. The opening stand provided a flying start before Kamil Mishara was caught at midwicket for 12 off Brad Evans in the sixth over. By then, Nissanka had already raced to 37 from 19 balls.
Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka and played a steady supporting role as the pair took Sri Lanka to 85 for one after 10 overs. Nissanka continued to dominate with confident stroke play, finishing unbeaten on 98 from 58 balls, narrowly missing out on a century.
Mendis remained not out on 25 off 25 deliveries as Sri Lanka cruised to victory. Sikandar Raza was Zimbabwe’s standout bowler, conceding just 17 runs from four overs.
Despite the loss, Zimbabwe remain in contention for a place in Saturday’s tri-series final against Pakistan. Their fate now depends on the outcome of Sri Lanka’s final group match against the hosts on Thursday.
Pakistan currently lead the table with six points from three wins, while both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have two points each, separated by net run rate.
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