Rawalpindi, 20 November 2025: Zimbabwe overcame Sri Lanka by a thumping 67-run margin in the second match of the tri-nation T20I series to go atop the points table as they successfully defended the 162-run total here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.
Sri Lanka will now face Pakistan in their next game at the same venue on Saturday, 23 November, while Zimbabwe will face the hosts a day after.
Sikandar Raza – who became just the second Zimbabwe player to 100 T20I wickets during the match besides his teammate Richard Ngarava (107), bagged player of the match award for his all-round performance, which handed Zimbabwe their largest T20I triumph against a full-member nation in terms of runs.
After Sri Lanka put Zimbabwe in to bat first, opening batter Brian Bennett – who fell for 49 in the second consecutive game – put on 61 runs for the third wicket with Sikandar (47, 32b) after they lost two wickets in the Powerplay.
While Bennett departed in the 13th over after hitting five fours and one six, Sikandar stayed till the 18th over as he struck three fours and two sixes during his outing keeping the run flow intact.
Following skipper’s departure, Tashinga Musekiwa hit a six in his 7-ball 11 making sure Zimbabwe cross the 150-run mark before finishing on 162-8 in the stipulated 20 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga picked up 3-32 in his four overs, while debutant Eshan Malinga dismissed two batters for 27 runs.
In turn, Sri Lanka crumbled for a mere 95 in 20 overs with only captain Dasun Shanaka (34, 25b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and the returning Bhanuka Rajapaksa (11, 18b, 1x4) entering double figures.
Sri Lanka lost half their team for just 52 runs in 10.4 overs, when Sikandar reached the 100-wicket landmark, before getting bowled out for below 100 for the third time in 2025 and second time against Zimbabwe in the year.
Brad Evans backed up his 2-26 against Pakistan with 3-9 off four overs against Sri Lanka, while Ngarava dismissed two batters in his four over giving away just 15 runs. Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Tinotenda Maposa picked up one wicket each.
Tri-series – 2nd T20I – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Zimbabwe 162-8, 20 overs (Brian Bennett 49, Sikandar Raza 47; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-32, Eshan Malinga 2-27)
Sri Lanka 95 all out, 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 34; Brad Evans 3-9, Richard Ngarava 2-15)
Player of the match – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
Series schedule: (All matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 6pm PKT)
18 November – First T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets
20 November – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs
22 November – Pakistan Sri Lanka
23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe
25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka
29 November – Final
