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

Pathum Nissanka found a timely return to form as he struck a devastating 98 off 58 deliveries to help Sri Lanka chase down a target of 147 against Zimbabwe in just 16.2 overs, with nine wickets to spare, in what was a must-win game in Rawalpindi. The result gives Sri Lanka their first win on the tour, and snaps a five-match losing streak in T20Is. It now means Sri Lanka go into their final game against Pakistan on Thursday knowing that a win will mean they qualify for the final of the tri-series.

Before Nissanka's blitz, Sri Lanka's bowlers had done well to restrict Zimbabwe to a sub-par total of 146 for 5. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga ended with identical innings-best figures of 2 for 23, as Zimbabwe struggled to push their innings into high gear.

There were starts for Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza, but both fell at inopportune moments, while a final flourish from Ryan Burl was still not enough to challenge a strong Sri Lanka batting performance. The rest of the Zimbabwe batting once more fell flat. There was also a debut for Pavan Rathnayake, though Nissanka ensured Rathnayake was not required to bat.

Nissanka finds form

After that monumental 107 against India in the Asia Cup, Nissanka's next five white-ball scores read 29, 24, 24, 0 and 17. Not necessarily terrible form, but for a side that relies heavily on his power-hitting to set the tone, it's no surprise that Nissanka's dip in form has coincided with a lean period for Sri Lanka.

But here, with Sri Lanka chasing a middling total and needing a win to stay in contention for the final, Nissanka finally got one to stick. Sri Lanka produced their best powerplay of the series - 64 for 1 - with Nissanka accounting for 37 of those runs. Through the middle overs, Sri Lanka struck a further 73 - and Nissanka 51 of those. And only three death-overs deliveries were needed to seal the chase - a wide, a four, and a mammoth six.

Full or short, it didn't matter, Nissanka dealt with them all just the same. There were sweeps off seamers, flat-batted wallops over extra cover, slaps down the ground, and mega pulls right across the square boundary. Richard Ngarava was singled out in particular, with the tall left-arm seamer being taken for four fours and three sixes.

Nissanka struck 11 fours and four sixes in total. Such was Nissanka's control over proceedings that the final shot of the chase - a front-foot pull for six over backward square leg - had Nissanka looking up at the sky with a wry smile. No, not in celebration, rather disbelief that he had struck six when he intended to hit a four, as the latter would have allowed him to make a run at a second T20I century.

Theekshana stakes his claim

In 11 T20Is in 2025, Theekshana has 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.78. It is his most expensive year so far - his overall economy rate stands at 6.97 - while also being his least impactful (in which he has played at least ten matches) since his debut in 2021. It has meant that despite picking up 24 wickets in 2024 at a strike rate of 18.7 - the figure stands at 23.1 for 2025 - Theekshana has found himself the odd man out on more than one occasion.

So having been dropped for Sri Lanka's second game in this tri-series, Theekshana was recalled for this match, and promptly handed the new ball. By the time his three-over powerplay spell had ended, two of Zimbabwe's top three had been sent back - he beat both edges to rattle the stumps of Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers - as his figures at that stage read 2 for 19. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, ended the powerplay on 44 for 2.

Theekshana's final over arrived at the start of the death-overs period, and in it he gave away just four runs. That was four quality overs in the game's most difficult period for bowlers on a good batting track. In a year where he hasn't been at the top of his game, Theekshana seemed to have provided a timely reminder of what he offers when he's at his best.

Raza, Bennett to the rescue again

Of the 581 runs Zimbabwe have struck over the course of four games this series, 273 have come off the bats of Bennett and Raza - that roughly accounts for 46%. It is a worrying dependency as of late, but one that Zimbabwe will be grateful for at present.

After Theekshana's early strikes, it was Bennett who ensured the scoring rate remained above seven runs an over, particularly with Brendan Taylor struggling for fluency at the other end. It meant that despite Taylor's 14 off 16 balls, their partnership of 36 still came off 28 deliveries.

And once Taylor fell, it brought Raza to the crease, and together he added 36 off 30 balls with Bennett - they mixed the odd boundary with intelligent strike rotation. While they were together, Zimbabwe looked on track for at least 160 as the pair navigated the middle overs expertly.

Burl's late show spares blushes

Burl has flattered to deceive throughout this series, but against Pakistan last time out, his 67 off 49 deliveries finally realised some of what he had been threatening. Unfortunately for Burl, that knock came in a doomed cause, whereas on Tuesday evening, he revived an innings that had been limping to a close.

After Bennett and Raza had both fallen in the space of 13 deliveries courtesy Hasaranga's double strike, Zimbabwe's innings was in danger of unraveling. Of the four overs bowled at the death, two went for three and four runs, respectively. But Burl, who had been on 1 off 7 balls when Raza fell midway through the 15th over, ensured the innings retained some momentum by striking 36 runs off his next 19 deliveries.

If Tashinga Musekiwa had been able to offer more support than his eventual 6 off 14 balls, Zimbabwe may have reached the 160 they had been eyeing - or perhaps more.