@Pathum Nishanka's reaction after completing half a century vs Zimbabwe in 1stT20
On September 3, 2025, Sri Lanka won the first T20 International by a dramatic 4 wicket margin against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club, and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In pursuit of a competitive goal of 176 Sri Lanka transcended the mid-innings wobble with a 41 not out off 16 balls by Kamindu Mendis and a sound 55 off 32 by Pathum Nissanka. Zimbabwe tried with Brian Bennett leading the charge with 81 off 57 but their bowling occurred at the wrong time and Sri Lanka won the game with five balls ahead.
Zimbabwe Innings:Bennett Basks In Brilliance
Sri Lanka got the upper hand by winning the toss and deciding to take the field, a move initially thought to be very difficult as Zimbabwe got 59/2 during the powerplay. The most brilliant performer, Brian Bennett, opened with aggression and flair, and scored 32 off 17 in the first six overs. Although Tadiwanashe Marumani and Sean Williams lost early in the match, Bennett exploited the pace of seamers, especially with deep third area, and held Zimbabwe on top. His backward sweeps against spinners were a bonus and alliances of 50 with Sikandar Raza and another with Ryan Burl moved Zimbabwe to 882 by the 10th over.
The best bowler in Sri Lanka was Dushmantha Chameera and he ended with 3 for 30. His pinpoint and early-breakthrough yorkers in the death overs like the one where Bennett was sacked on the final ball of the 19th over, stopped Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe finished at 175/7 in spite of a late blaze by Tashinga Musekiwa who hit back to back boundaries. Bennett made 81 the bone-thrower, although the aggregate seemed a trifle below the mark on a batsman-favoured surface, and the careless work of the Sri Lanka fielders and the slow pace of the business strained the nerves.
Sri Lanka' Chase: Dominance to Drama
There was a vigorous start to the chase by Sri Lanka and the openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, added 65/0 during the powerplay. Nissanka was aggressive, getting a half-century and a century in the ODI series and followed the form with a 55 off 32, four fours and two sixes. The square-of-the-wicket swing of his bat was a feature, and by the 10th ball the Sri Lankans were rolling along at 96/1, with 80 runs required to make out of the remaining 60 balls.
But bowlers led by Richard Ngarava (2-19) set in motion a dramatic breakdown in Zimbabwe. When Nissanka was dismissed in the 11th over, trapped by Marumani against Tinotenda Maposa, his 96/1 slide changed to 125/5. Ngarava then hit Kusal Mendis (38 of 35) and Kusal Perera back to back, and Sikandar Raza threw out captain Charith Asalanka. Zimbabwe had 34 required off 18 balls, and could feel aggrieved, particularly when two more wickets were lost and Sri Lanka was on 142/6.
Kamindu Mendis Turns the Tide:
The game-changer was Kamindu Mendis who batted at No. 6. With an unstable position, he took the offensive, and attacked Zimbabwe seamers with bold strokes. The decisive one was the 18th over bowled by Tinotenda Maposa. Kamindu reverse-scooped a four-yard yorker, smacked a full toss, chest high, over six, and sent another full toss, off the leg-side, toward deep square leg. The over cost 26, and one of them is a no-ball and the other is wide, which decisively puts the game on the side of Sri Lanka. Kamindu finished it with a master stroke of 41, which carries four sixes and a four, and he received the Player of the Match award. Dushan Hemantha (14 not out) was steady support, and wrapped up the chase with a superb cover drive in the 19th over.
Key Moments and Takeaways:
It was a rollercoaster match and the momentum changed several times. Bennett Powerplay gave Zimbabwe an overall advantage, but their inability to go to the field during death overs and the failure of Sri Lanka to retain the field through their fielding failures put the game still within reach. The pursuit of Sri Lanka was their batting quality, Nissanka set the base and Kamindu gave a bang finish. But the middle-order breakdown brought up some worries about how they attempted to choke under pressure, which was reflected by fans on social media who were savage in their criticism of how the team intentionally tried to slow down once the powerplay ended.
Zimbabwe had potential, particularly in Bennett and Ngarava and their plight showed that the country was able to compete to secure a spot in the T20 World Cup. In the case of Sri Lanka, it was a boost before the Asia Cup and Nissanka and Kamindu turned out to be very crucial players. The skills of Hemantha in her debut performance and that of Chameera with the ball contributed to their team.
Looking Ahead:
The first T20I was 1-0 to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will be looking to even the score in the second game on September 5, 2025, at the same venue. They will have to squeeze their death bowling and make the most of their batting starts. Sri Lanka, in turn, will seek to continue their flow and resolve their middle-order weakness. The series will feature even more exciting cricket with the two teams further polishing on their preparations on coming global tournaments.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 175/7 in (20 overs) (Brian Bennett 81; Dushmantha Chameera 3/30) lost to Sri lanka 177/6 in 19.1 Overs (Pathum Nissanka 55, Kamindu Mendis 41*; Richard Ngarava 2/19) by 4 wickets.