Sri Lanka thumped Zimbabwe by 9 wickets in the T20I Tri-series match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the final.
Chasing a modest 147-run target for victory, Sri Lanka crossed the finish line with nine wickets in hand and 22 balls remaining.
Pathum Nissanka was the top scorer for the winners with an unbeaten 98 off 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and four maximums. Kusal Mendis contributed an unbeaten 25 off 25 balls, and Kamil Mishara 12 off 15 balls. Pathum Nissanka was named Player of the Match.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Zimbabwe reached 146/5 in their quota of 20 overs. Skipper Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl were the highest scorers with 37 runs each.
Opener Brian Bennet contributed 34 off 26 balls and Brendan Taylor 14 off 16 balls. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga bagged two wickets each, while skipper Dasun Shanaka took one wicket.
Zimbabwe Playing XI: 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadiwanashe Marumani, 3 Brendan Taylor (wk), 4 Sikandar Raza (capt), 5 Ryan Burl, 6 Dion Myers, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tinotenda Maposa, 11 Richard Ngarava
Sri Lanka Playing XI: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Janith Liyanage, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Pavan Rathnayake, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Eshan Malinga
