Key Point
- Late blitz from Pavan Rathnayake helps hosts recover from middle-order wobble after Pathum Nissanka’s fluent 62.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka posted a competitive 178 against Zimbabwe In final Group B encounter of T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Thusrday.
After Sri Lanka chose to bat on what looked like a good surface, they were given a flying start by opener Pathum Nissanka. The stylish right-hander looked in sublime touch, anchoring the innings with a fluent 62 off just 41 balls. Nissanka’s knock was laced with eight boundaries as he found the gaps with ease.
He was well-supported by the explosive Kusal Perera, who smashed 22 off 14 balls, including four fours. The pair raced to a 50-run stand, but Perera’s aggressive innings was cut short in the fifth over when he was caught by Graeme Cremer off the bowling of the tall paceman Blessing Muzarabani for 22.
Middle-Order Stutter Before Rathnayake Revival
The introduction of spin in the middle overs slowed Sri Lanka’s momentum. Kusal Mendis (14 off 20) struggled to rotate the strike before being stumped off the bowling of leg-spinner Ryan Burl. The major breakthrough for Zimbabwe came when Nissanka, who had been the set batter, was dismissed for a well-made 62, caught by Cremer off his own bowling.
At 108 for 3, Zimbabwe sensed an opportunity to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par total. Kamindu Mendis (7) fell cheaply, caught and bowled by Cremer, and captain Dasun Shanaka (6) was dismissed by Muzarabani, leaving Sri Lanka wobbling at 142 for 5.
However, a late assault from the lower order propelled the Lankans past the 175-run mark. Pavan Rathnayake played a sensational cameo, smashing 44 off just 25 deliveries, a knock that included two massive sixes and three fours. He added a quickfire 22-run stand with Dunith Wellalage (15* off 8) before Rathnayake was dismissed by Brad Evans in the penultimate over. Evans also accounted for Dushan Hemantha for a golden duck on the final ball of the innings.
Zimbabwe Bowlers Fight Back
Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, using his height and pace to return figures of 2 for 38 in his four overs. The veteran Graeme Cremer was economical and effective, also claiming 2 for 27, while Brad Evans picked up two wickets at the death.
Sri Lanka finished their 20 overs at 178 for 7. With the forecast suggesting a par score around 176, the total is slightly above par, but Zimbabwe will back themselves with a strong batting lineup capable of chasing down 179 in this final group-stage match of World Cup 2026.
