RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first against Zimbabwe in the second match of the Tri-Nations Series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, banking on dew and a used surface to aid their strategy.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka said the conditions prompted the decision, adding that his side would aim to contain Zimbabwe early.
“It’s a used pitch and there’s some dew, and that’s the reason. We need to restrict them and take Sikandar’s wicket,” he said, standing alongside Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza at the toss.
Raza, unfazed by being asked to bat first, reiterated his team’s attacking approach. “When we bat first, we try and score as many runs as possible. I don’t like to set targets,” he said. He noted that the surface looked like a typical Rawalpindi track.
Zimbabwe has named an unchanged XI for the contest, sticking with the combination that featured in their previous match.
Their lineup includes Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor (wk), Ryan Burl, skipper Sikandar Raza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava and Graeme Cremer.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, field a strong side featuring Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga.
The match is expected to play a key role in shaping the standings of the Tri-Nations Series, with both teams eager to seize early momentum.
Head to Head
In their last five encounters, Sri Lanka hold a slight edge over Zimbabwe, winning three of the matches. The most recent clash on 7 September 2025 saw Sri Lanka cruise to an eight-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare.
A day earlier, on 6 September, Zimbabwe had turned the tables with a commanding five-wicket win, finishing with 34 balls remaining.
Earlier in the same series, on 3 September 2025, Sri Lanka claimed a tight four-wicket win with just five balls left.
Going further back, Sri Lanka dominated on 18 January 2024 with a nine-wicket victory, finishing the chase with 55 balls in hand.
Zimbabwe’s earlier triumph came on 16 January 2024, when they edged out Sri Lanka by four wickets in a nail-biting finish with only one ball remaining.
