Listless Sri Lanka succumb to Zimbabwe by 67 runs

Pakistan T20I Tri-Series

Friday, 21 November 2025 03:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Richard Ngarava set the tone for Zimbabwe in the powerplay

Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets to restrict Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe celebrate the wicket of Dasun Shanaka

Brian Bennett was out for 49 for the second time in as many innings

Zimbabwe produced a dominant all-round performance to rout Sri Lanka for 95 and win their second match of the T20I Tri-Series by 67 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Having lost their first match to Pakistan two days ago, Zimbabwe put up a clinical show to outwit Sri Lanka in all departments of the game and secure only their third win in 11 T20I matches against Sri Lanka.

The tone for Zimbabwe was set in the opening over when Richard Ngarava hit the pitch hard and got the prize wicket of Pathum Nissanka for a duck. Tinotenda Maposa followed it with Kusal Perera’s wicket in the next over and Sri Lanka never looked like they were in it from then. They went through their lowest powerplay this year – 25-2 (6) – in 14 T20Is.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa ran Kusal Mendis out and then slogged to get himself out. Dasun Shanaka, in his return as Captain, waged a lone hand, making a top score of 34 off 25 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes) after being given a chance early on when Tadiwanashe Marumani missed a run-out. There was no help from the rest of the batters and Sri Lanka at the end played for the Net Run Rate (NRR) as the last pair attempted to bat out the overs. It was poor cricket from Sri Lanka and they had only themselves to blame for the defeat.

Zimbabwe improved on their performance from the opening game, but once again fell short of a par total. Brian Bennett (49 off 42 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) was central to their innings, putting together a 61-run stand off 43 balls with Sikandar Raza (47 off 32 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) that briefly had them on track for something in the region of 180. However, once that partnership was broken, both set batsmen fell before reaching their fifties, and Zimbabwe never found the finishing kick. Bennett fell before the death overs, and Raza was caught brilliantly by his vis-à-vis Dasun Shanaka just as Zimbabwe were eyeing up a big finish.

Wanindu Hasaranga (3/32) was outstanding with the ball and debutant Eshan Malinga impressed as well with figures of 2/27.

Raza picked up the Player of the Match award with his contribution with the bat and the ball (47 and 1/23), which included his 100th T20I wicket when he dismissed Kamindu Mendis. But it was the Zimbabwe quicks who set it all up, getting enough help from the pitch to tie down the Lankan batsmen who eventually succumbed to the pressure exerted.

This big win helped Zimbabwe’s NRR as they went to the top of the table.