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Sri Lanka finally found the spark they had been searching for in the tri-series, clinching a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi to stay in contention for a spot in the final. Pathum Nissanka was the difference maker with his unbeaten 98 off 58 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to a comfortable chase of 147 with 22 balls to spare. After five straight T20I losses, the island nation finally ended on the winning side.
Put into bat, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start courtesy of Maheesh Theekshana. The spinner, recalled for this must-win clash, bowled a brilliant new-ball spell that removed Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers early.
Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor tried to stabalize, but Taylor couldn’t score at a high rate, while Bennett kept the board ticking, but departed for 34.
Sikandar Raza stitched together a stand with Bennett and later tried to push the innings. His 37 off 29 pushed the total to a 160-plus score. Wanindu Hasaranga struck twice in quick succession to remove both Bennett and Raza. Ryan Burl’s quick unbeaten 37 gave Zimbabwe a respectable 146 for 5.
Chasing 147, Nissanka guided Sri Lanka to 64 for 1 in six overs. Kamil Mishara’s dismissal for 12 didn’t slow things down. With Kusal Mendis rotating strike at the other end, Nissanka kept scoring runs all around the ground. Nissanka’s eleven fours and four sixes finished the chase in 16.2 overs, but the batter remained just two runs short of his second T20I century.
“My plan was to play well in the powerplay where we struggled before, I was able to get through that and continue my batting. I analyzed a few areas where I was going wrong, I corrected those and it came off today. It’s not easy to play all three formats and adapt to them. In the practice sessions, I practice differently for each format. (On his favourite six today) I think the scoop shot,” Nissanka said at the post-match interview.
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