Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

BJ Bennett
BJ Bennett
81(57) 12x4 - 0x6
Control %77%
  • Productive Shot
  • on drive
  • 15 runs
  • 3x4 - 0x6
19 0 1 14 10 10 19 8
P Nissanka
55(32) 4x4 - 2x6
Control %75%
  • Productive Shot
  • pull
  • 18 runs
  • 1x4 - 1x6
5 6 12 6 6 0 5 15

Best performances - Bowlers

PVD Chameera
O4
M0
R30
W3
Eco7.5
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
1W
R Ngarava
R Ngarava
O4
M0
R19
W2
Eco4.75
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W

Match Details

Toss

Sri Lanka , elected to field first

Player Of The Match

Series result

Sri Lanka led the 3-match series 1-0

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

13.30 start, First Session 13.30-15.00, Interval 15.00-15.20, Second Session 15.20-16.50

Match days

3 September 2025 (20-over match)

T20I debut

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya

So Sri Lanka start the T20Is with a win, as Zimbabwe once more fall short having got themselves into a winning position. Can they finally cross that hurdle? Well match number two is on Saturday. So be sure to join us for that. Till then, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of team, this is Madushka signing out!

Charith Asalanka: "I'm really happy about the performance and the results. Outstanding the way the boys played today. Little bit [of panic], yes, but credit to how Zimbabwe bowled and fielded. They were doing a great job in that period, but Kamindu played amazingly well. [Chameera?] To me he's the x-factor, he can bowl over 140ks and we missed him in the side over the last year."

Player of the match goes to Kamindu Mendis for his match-winning 41 off 16: "There were quick wickets in the middle so I thought trying to get five to six balls to get in and then finish the game. I had to hit boundaries, so I just kept calm and expressed myself. It was a good surface. Zimbabwe batted well as did we."

Sikandar Raza: I thought we were in the game for 19 overs, but it was one over that went for 20 odd that turned the game. These are the experiences the young boys need to have, but hopefully he nails his yorkers on another day. We knew the second innings could be tough to bat, but Kamindu played brilliantly. Unfortunately when we find ourselves in winning positions there's a panic, but I hope once we get some wins under the belt hopefully we'll start to close out more games going forward.

5.04pm Time then for the post match presentation...

Palinda: "Now that's a cameo " --- When the cameo steals the show.

Manu Gill: "This would be as heartbreaking for Zimbabweans as was the first ODI."

Quest: "Despite the result of this game, I don't see Zimbabwe not making into the T20 World Cup this time around. Missed them in the West Indies, and, with due respect to Uganda, Namibia, and all the other teams, Zimbabwe should definitely make it this time around."

Uwaisul Karnain: "Can't quite recall the last instance of when did a SL middle order batsman play a substantial innings like this. Perhaps Shanaka's onslaught against Australia?" --- Bhanuka in the Asia Cup also comes to mind, but Kamindu in this sort of form is a genuine asset.

4.55pm So true to how this series has been so far, the T20Is start with yet another rollercoaster game. One that was decided in the end by a blazing Kamindu Mendis 41 off 16. And Sri Lanka needed each and every one of those 41 runs, after they had collapsed from 96 for 1 to 125 for 5, and then 142 for 6. Pathum Nissanka (55 off 32) and Kusal Mendis (38 off 35) had given Sri Lanka the perfect start, scoring 96 in the first 10 overs, but a stunning middle order collapse courtesy some outstanding catching left them needing 34 off 18. But a 26-run 18th over turned the game decisively in Sri Lanka's favour, as Kamindu aided by debutant Hemantha saw their side home.

19.1
4
Muzarabani to Hemantha, FOUR, But no matter, Hemantha seals it with an exquisite cover drive! Full, wide and driven through that stacked offside field. Sri Lanka win by four wickets! They lead the series 1-0

So we go into the final over. 3 needed off six, Muzarabani to bowl. Is there something special remaining in this game? If there is, Zimbabwe have to do it with an extra fielder in the ring as they have been penalised for a slow over rate. All five fielders in the ring on the offside!

END OF OVER:
19 | 5 Runs | SL: 173/6 (3 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.10, RRR: 3.00)

  • Dushan Hemantha10 (8b)
  • Kamindu Mendis41 (16b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-19-2
  • Tinotenda Maposa4-0-47-1
18.6
1lb
Ngarava to Hemantha, 1 leg bye, short of a length, misses the pull but the ball drops at his feet and he runs the single
18.5
0
Ngarava to Hemantha, no run, Short ball, very well directed over the shoulder. Misses the hook

Kamindu says to Hemantha in Sinhalese: "try and hit a four."

18.4
1
Ngarava to PHKD Mendis, 1 run, full on the pads, chipped to deep midwicket for a single

Thushara: "Kamindu is MOTM?" --- Only if they win.

18.3
1
Ngarava to Hemantha, 1 run, yorker on off, dropped to Raza at short extra and they scurry for the single. Direct hit would have likely had Hemantha
18.2
0
Ngarava to Hemantha, no run, back of a length and wide outside off, play and a miss but just about inside the wide line

Rod: "There goes the game in one over, just like that! Cricket can be a cruel game"

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st96BKG MendisP Nissanka
2nd6MDKJ PereraBKG Mendis
3rd1BKG MendisMNK Fernando
4th3KIC AsalankaMNK Fernando
5th19PHKD MendisMNK Fernando
6th17MD ShanakaPHKD Mendis
7th35MADI HemanthaPHKD Mendis