Zimbabwe’s tour of Sri Lanka ended on a disappointing note as they suffered a heavy defeat by nine wickets in the third and final T20 international match in Colombo. Batting first, Zimbabwe could only manage 82 runs before being bundled out. Sri Lanka chased down the target comfortably, securing victory and clinching the series. Let’s delve into the match details and key moments.

Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start, losing Craig Ervine off the first ball he faced. Brian Bennett provided a glimmer of hope with a quickfire 29 runs, including seven fours. However, after his dismissal, Zimbabwe’s batting faltered as wickets tumbled in quick succession. Only Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (12), Sean Williams (15), and Sikandar Raza (10) managed double-digit scores. No other batsman could contribute significantly, resulting in a meager total of 82.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the chief tormentor for Zimbabwe, claiming four wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs. His variations troubled the Zimbabwean batsmen, leading to their downfall.

Sri Lanka’s opening batsmen, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, made light work of the target, forging a partnership of 64 runs within eight overs. Mendis fell for a well-made 33 off 27 balls, dismissing him with a superb delivery from Sean Williams. Dhananjaya de Silva joined Nissanka, and they comfortably guided Sri Lanka to victory without any further loss. Nissanka remained unbeaten on 39, while de Silva contributed 15 runs.

With the convincing win in the final match, Sri Lanka sealed the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Their dominant performance with both bat and ball showcased their superiority in the series. We hope this is the last time Zimbabwe loses against Sri Lanka and that next year they come back stronger and better!