Eman 
ZeeaK 
Sri Lanka mounted a magnificent comeback in the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025, delivering a commanding nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the 5th match. The win, powered by a spectacular individual batting effort, secured Sri Lanka’s spot in the tournament final against Pakistan.
First Innings: Spin Duo Restricts Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, but their innings was stalled by the accuracy of the Sri Lankan spinners, finishing on a below-par 146 for 5 in 20 overs.
- Strong Start: Opener Brian Bennett continued his good form in the series, scoring a brisk 34 runs off 26 balls.
- Spin Control: Sri Lanka’s spinners, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, were superb, each claiming two wickets and applying a tight chokehold during the middle overs. Hasaranga’s late wicket of captain Sikandar Raza (37 off 29 balls) prevented a late surge.
- Burl’s Support: Ryan Burl provided the final boost, scoring 37 runs off 26 deliveries, helping Zimbabwe post a competitive, but ultimately insufficient, total.
Second Innings: Pathum Nissanka’s Demolition Job
Chasing 147 for the win, Sri Lanka’s innings was an exhibition of controlled aggression, led by opener Pathum Nissanka.
- Masterclass: Nissanka was unstoppable, displaying clean hitting and clinical placement across the ground. He dominated the chase from the first over, smashing 11 fours and 4 sixes to guide his side within touching distance of the target.
- Series Clincher: Sri Lanka made light work of the target, reaching 148 for 1 in just 16.2 overs.
- Near Century: The only disappointment was that Nissanka was left stranded on 98 not out off 58 balls, denied a richly deserved century by the rapidity of the chase.
- Finals Bound: The convincing victory ensures Sri Lanka finishes ahead of Zimbabwe on Net Run Rate (NRR), confirming their place in the tournament final against hosts Pakistan.
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 146/5 (Sikandar Raza 37, Ryan Burl 37; Maheesh Theekshana 2/23, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/23) lost to Sri Lanka 148/1 (Pathum Nissanka 98*) by 9 wickets.
For detailed match analyses, exclusive player insights, and the final word on emerging cricket stars, visit our full site today!
Image Credits : Cricket 12
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Dailymotion
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Youtube
About the Author
