Zimbabwe delivered a clinical all-round performance to overwhelm Sri Lanka by 67 runs in the second T20I tri-series match in Rawalpindi on Thursday, combining composure with the bat and ruthless precision with the ball.
Sent in under bright evening lights, Zimbabwe set the early tempo with intent.
Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani were proactive against the new ball, guiding their side to 26 in the first three overs.
That momentum was checked when Marumani, on 10, was undone by Maheesh Theekshana’s clever change of pace, smartly caught-and-bowled as he attempted to accelerate the scoring.
Brendan Taylor’s brief stay ended on 11, but Zimbabwe’s innings found renewed impetus through a well-constructed, authoritative partnership between Bennett and Sikandar Raza.
The pair added 61 runs in seven overs, blending aggression with calm accumulation.
Bennett, matching his 49 from the previous outing, fell to a mistimed sweep that picked out short fine leg, while Raza provided the backbone of the innings with a sparkling 47 off 32 balls.
His knock featured crisp strokeplay, including two sixes and three fours, anchoring Zimbabwe toward a competitive total.
Ryan Burl injected late energy with an 11-ball 18 featuring two towering sixes, though the lower order could not fully maximise the platform.
Zimbabwe’s innings closed at 162 for eight in 20 overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga led Sri Lanka’s attack with three for 32, while seamer Eshan Malinga impressed with figures of two for 27.
If Zimbabwe’s batting was solid, their bowling and fielding were nothing short of ruthless.
Richard Ngarava struck with the score still showing only a wide, removing Pathum Nissanka for a duck with a delivery that shaped away late.
The pressure intensified in the next over when Tinotenda Maposa induced Kusal Perera (4) into a skied mishit, brilliantly judged by Ngarava at fine leg.
Reeling at six for two, Sri Lanka never recovered.
A disastrous run-out in the seventh over saw Bhanuka Rajapaksa sell his partner Kusal Mendis short for six.
Moments later, Rajapaksa himself perished for 12 attempting a desperate heave off Brad Evans.
At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka had limped to 45 for four, still needing 118 from the last 10 overs.
Hope briefly rested on captain Dasun Shanaka, who showed grit and authority in his 34 off 25 balls, striking a few clean blows as Zimbabwe’s bowlers maintained unerring discipline.
But when Burl found a thin edge through to Taylor in the 14th over, Sri Lanka slumped to 75 for six and the contest was effectively sealed.
The lower order offered little resistance – caught between survival and counterattack but managing neither.
Raza bowled Kamindu Mendis for nine to tighten the screws, while Evans mopped up the tail to finish with superb figures of three for nine, a reward for his disciplined death bowling.
Ngarava’s two for 15 capped another polished outing from the left-arm quick.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 95 on the final ball, sealing a resounding victory for Zimbabwe built on sharp intensity, smart cricket and an excellent all-round team effort.
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