Nissanka blasts Zimbabwe, keeps SL hopes alive: Tri T20 No 5 (Rawalpindi)

Pathum Nissanka was the star as Sri Lanka finally broke through in the 2025 Tri-Nation T20 with a commanding nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Match 5.

Zimbabwe’s innings never fully ignited, finishing on 146/5 despite steady efforts from Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett. Sri Lanka’s spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga applied the squeeze in the middle overs, taking two wickets each to keep the total manageable.

The chase was then completely dominated by Pathum Nissanka, who produced a sparkling unbeaten 98 from 58 balls, striking 11 fours and 4 sixes as Sri Lanka romped home at 148/1 in 16.2 overs.

The emphatic victory not only delivered their first points of the series but also kept their hopes of reaching the final alive, setting up a crucial showdown with Pakistan.

Sri Lanka 148 for 1 (Nissanka 98*, Kusal 25*, Evans 1-36) beat Zimbabwe 146 for 5 (Burl 37*, Hasaranga 2-23, Theekshana 2-23) by nine wickets.

Nov 2025