177/6 (19.1)
CR : 9.23
175/7 (20.0)
CR : 8.75
Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Kamindu Mendis
0/1541(16)
SL won by 4 wickets
8:25 PM IST, 4:55 PM Local Time: Sri Lanka register an adventurous 4-wicket win in the T20I series opener against Zimbabwe at Harare. Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis starred with the bat to seal the tense 176-run chase.
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. Dushmantha Chameera (3/30), Dushan Hemantha on debut (1/28), Dasun Shanaka (0/14) and Kamindu Mendis (0/15) bowled superb spells and kept Zimbabwe down to 175/7 with Brian Bennett top scoring with 81 off 57 balls.
Sri Lanka started off brilliantly with Nissanka and Kusal Mendis adding 96 runs for the first wicket in 10.1 overs. Tinotenda Maposa broke the stand by dismissing Nissanka. Richard Ngarava then struck twice in the 13th over sending both the Kusals - Mendis and Perera back in the shed.
The Lankan middle order failed to get going with Nuwanidu Fernando (7), Dasun Shanaka (6) and skipper Charith Asalanka (1) losing their wickets in quick succession opening a window for Zimbabwe to make a comeback.
It was Kamindu Mendis and debutant Dushan Hemantha (14* off 9) taking the side to victory with an unbeaten 35 run stand for the 7th wicket. Kamindu scored 41 off just 16 balls hitting 1 four and 4 maximums including a 26-run over against Maposa to bring the Lankans in the game again.
Ngarava (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers with skipper Sikandar Raza (1/26) continuing to bowl some economic overs. The pacers Blessing Muzarabani (1/41), Maposa (1/47) and Brad Evans (1/30) all picked up 1 wicket apiece but their economy rate remained over 10.
The teams will face each other at the same venue on Saturday. Stay tuned for the post match presentation.
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. Dushmantha Chameera (3/30), Dushan Hemantha on debut (1/28), Dasun Shanaka (0/14) and Kamindu Mendis (0/15) bowled superb spells and kept Zimbabwe down to 175/7 with Brian Bennett top scoring with 81 off 57 balls.
Sri Lanka started off brilliantly with Nissanka and Kusal Mendis adding 96 runs for the first wicket in 10.1 overs. Tinotenda Maposa broke the stand by dismissing Nissanka. Richard Ngarava then struck twice in the 13th over sending both the Kusals - Mendis and Perera back in the shed.
The Lankan middle order failed to get going with Nuwanidu Fernando (7), Dasun Shanaka (6) and skipper Charith Asalanka (1) losing their wickets in quick succession opening a window for Zimbabwe to make a comeback.
It was Kamindu Mendis and debutant Dushan Hemantha (14* off 9) taking the side to victory with an unbeaten 35 run stand for the 7th wicket. Kamindu scored 41 off just 16 balls hitting 1 four and 4 maximums including a 26-run over against Maposa to bring the Lankans in the game again.
Ngarava (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers with skipper Sikandar Raza (1/26) continuing to bowl some economic overs. The pacers Blessing Muzarabani (1/41), Maposa (1/47) and Brad Evans (1/30) all picked up 1 wicket apiece but their economy rate remained over 10.
The teams will face each other at the same venue on Saturday. Stay tuned for the post match presentation.
Most Runs Conceded by a Zimbabwe Bowler in an Over in T20Is:
29 – Richard Ngarava vs Scotland, Edinburgh, 2021
28 – Dion Myers vs India, Harare, 2024
26 – Tendai Chatara vs Afghanistan, Mirpur, 2019
26 – Blessing Muzarabani vs Afghanistan, Harare, 2022
26 – Tinotenda Maposa vs Sri Lanka, Harare, 2025*
29 – Richard Ngarava vs Scotland, Edinburgh, 2021
28 – Dion Myers vs India, Harare, 2024
26 – Tendai Chatara vs Afghanistan, Mirpur, 2019
26 – Blessing Muzarabani vs Afghanistan, Harare, 2022
26 – Tinotenda Maposa vs Sri Lanka, Harare, 2025*
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "Listen, I thought we were in the game for 19 overs. One over that went for 26 killed the game. It's one of those things. We have to stay patient with the young boys. Tino must get it right and I'm sure he will nail those yorkers in the upcoming games.
We knew the wicket would get slower as the game progresses. It was a bit sticky and to get runs on the board was our plan. But Kamindu used his options really well and put our young boy under pressure.
I always believe winning changing rooms changes things. Once we start winning, we will start walking over that hurdle. Luck is going to change. Hopefully, we will start closing out the games in the future."
We knew the wicket would get slower as the game progresses. It was a bit sticky and to get runs on the board was our plan. But Kamindu used his options really well and put our young boy under pressure.
I always believe winning changing rooms changes things. Once we start winning, we will start walking over that hurdle. Luck is going to change. Hopefully, we will start closing out the games in the future."
Player of the Match: Kamindu Mendis
Kamindu Mendis (Player of the Match): "We lost some quick wickets in the middle so I thought if I can get ready to finish the game and I did it.
I had to hit boundaries in that situation so I just kept calm and wanted to express myself in the middle.
It was a good surface. Zimbabwe batted really well, we also batted well."
I had to hit boundaries in that situation so I just kept calm and wanted to express myself in the middle.
It was a good surface. Zimbabwe batted really well, we also batted well."
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "Well, I'm really happy with the performance and the result. With the way we played today, it was outstanding.
I think the credit must go to the Zimbabwe bowlers and the fielders as well. They did a fine job in that period. Kamindu played really well.
(On Kusal Mendis) He's outstanding in the recent past and I just want him to fire back.
(On Dushmantha Chameera) To me, he's the X-factor. He can bowl above 145+. We missed him and we are happy to see him back in the side."
I think the credit must go to the Zimbabwe bowlers and the fielders as well. They did a fine job in that period. Kamindu played really well.
(On Kusal Mendis) He's outstanding in the recent past and I just want him to fire back.
(On Dushmantha Chameera) To me, he's the X-factor. He can bowl above 145+. We missed him and we are happy to see him back in the side."
That's it from an emphatic game of cricket between two equal sides! Sri Lanka having the edge over Zimbabwe narrowly thanks to Kamindu Mendis' efforts. Here's Ninaad Dixit signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide, scorer Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.