KEY POINTS
- Brian Bennett scored 49 and captain Sikandar Raza added 47 to post 162.
- Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Brad Evans (3/9), restricted Sri Lanka to 95 all out
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Zimbabwe pulled off a big win against Sri Lanka, beating them by 67 runs in the second match of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first, Zimbabwe scored 162, with Brian Bennett was the top scorer with 49 runs off 42 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Captain Sikandar Raza supported with 47 off 32 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Ryan Burl made 18, and Tashinga Musekiwa scored 11. Other batsmen managed small contributions as wickets fell regularly.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers tried to keep Zimbabwe under control. Wanindu Hasaranga took 3 wickets for 32 runs, Eshan Malinga took 2, and Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana took one each. Nuwan Thushara bowled economically, but extras were minimal at just 4 runs.
Chasing 163, Sri Lanka struggled from the start. Opener Pathum Nissanka was out for a duck, and wickets kept falling.
Dasun Shanaka top-scored with 34 off 25 balls, but no one else could make a big contribution.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer shone, taking key wickets and keeping Sri Lanka to just 95 all out.
Brad Evans was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 9 runs, Ngarava took 2/15, and Cremer took 1/17. Zimbabwe’s tight bowling and strong batting earned them a convincing 67-run victory.
This win boosts Zimbabwe’s confidence in the tri-series, while Sri Lanka will look to bounce back in their next match.
Match Summary
Zimbabwe: 162/8 (20 overs)
Sri Lanka: 95 all out (20 overs)
Top scorers: Brian Bennett 49, Sikandar Raza 47
Best bowlers: Brad Evans 3/9, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/32
Result: Zimbabwe won by 67 runs
