Pathum Nissanka delivered one of the most electrifying T20I knocks of his career, smashing an unbeaten 98 to resurrect Sri Lanka’s tri-series hopes and end a painful losing streak with a ruthless demolition of Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka kept their tri-series campaign alive with a dominant win over Zimbabwe, chasing down a target of 147 with ease in Rawalpindi. Led by an explosive unbeaten 98 from Pathum Nissanka, the team surged to 148 for 1 in just 16.2 overs, securing a nine-wicket victory and finally breaking their five-match losing streak in T20Is. The win puts Sri Lanka in a strong position, as a victory against Pakistan in their final group match will confirm their place in the tri-series final.
Before Nissanka’s assault, Sri Lanka’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict Zimbabwe to 146 for 5. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga led the effort with identical figures of 2 for 23. Zimbabwe struggled to accelerate through their innings, with only Ryan Burl offering a late push. The debut of Pavan Rathnayake was notable, although Nissanka’s dominance meant he did not get a chance to bat.
Nissanka’s return to form was crucial for Sri Lanka. After his 107 against India in the Asia Cup, his following scores of 29, 24, 24, 0 and 17 signaled inconsistency that mirrored the team’s struggles. In this must-win match, he answered with authority. Sri Lanka enjoyed their best powerplay of the series, reaching 64 for 1 with Nissanka scoring 37 of those runs. He continued to dictate through the middle overs, blasting 51 more as Sri Lanka dismantled the chase efficiently. Only three balls were needed in the death overs, including a wide, a four and a towering six.
Nissanka punished every length, sweeping seamers, striking clean drives, pulling with power and clearing the field with confidence. Richard Ngarava suffered the most, conceding four boundaries and three sixes to Nissanka alone. By the end of the innings Nissanka had struck 11 fours and four sixes. His final shot, a front-foot pull for six, left him smiling in disbelief as he intended a four that would have kept his hopes alive for a second T20I century.
Theekshana’s spell also stood out. Although 2025 has been his most expensive T20I year so far, he reminded selectors of his value with a strong performance. He was handed the new ball and struck twice inside the powerplay, beating the bat to bowl out Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers. His final over, bowled at the start of the death overs, cost only four runs. It was a return to the discipline and control that defined his earlier success.
Zimbabwe relied heavily once again on Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza. The pair contributed significantly to keeping the scoring rate healthy after Theekshana’s early breakthroughs. Their partnership of 36 off 28 balls steadied Zimbabwe before Hasaranga dismissed both in quick succession. Ryan Burl revived the innings late, scoring 36 off 19 balls following a slow start of 1 off 7. His efforts ensured Zimbabwe crossed 140, although lack of support from the other end kept them short of a competitive total.
Sri Lanka’s commanding response was driven entirely by Nissanka’s brilliance, setting up a thrilling final group match against Pakistan where a win will seal their place in the tri-series final.
