Rawalpindi, November 25, 2025 – Sri Lanka kept their hopes alive in the T20I Tri-Series with a dominant 9-wicket victory over Zimbabwe, thanks to a blazing 98-run innings by Pathum Nissanka, who was named Player of the Match.
Chasing a target of 147, Sri Lanka made it look effortless. Nissanka anchored the innings brilliantly alongside Kusal Mendis, punishing anything loose and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Despite losing opener Kamil Mishara, Sri Lanka remained in control, cruising to victory with 22 balls to spare.
“My plan was to play aggressively in the powerplay. I analyzed my game, and it worked well,” said Pathum Nissanka. “I’m happy with this win and will keep training hard.”
Match Highlights
Zimbabwe’s innings started poorly after choosing to bat first. Maheesh Theekshana struck early, removing two top-order batters as Zimbabwe stumbled to 17/2. While Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza provided brief resistance, wickets kept falling under tight Sri Lankan bowling. Theekshana and Hasaranga ensured no Zimbabwean batter could score big, although Ryan Burl added a late flourish to take the total to 146.
Sri Lanka’s chase, led by Nissanka, was dominant from the start. The openers capitalized on Zimbabwe’s lack of control, and spinners failed to build pressure. The chase highlighted Sri Lanka’s batting strength and strategic execution.
Team Reactions
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka praised the team’s approach:
“Our plan was to attack the stumps. We performed well, but there are areas to improve. The next game against Pakistan is crucial.”
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza admitted his team fell short:
“We failed to score in the powerplay and didn’t perform with bat or ball. We’ll support Pakistan in the next game, as their win can help Zimbabwe qualify for the finals.”
Next Match
Sri Lanka now faces a must-win game against Pakistan on Thursday, November 27th, 1 PM GMT. Fans can expect live build-up and coverage as Sri Lanka aims to secure a spot in the finals.