Zimbabwe posts competitive total despite slow start
Zimbabwe, who opted to bat first, struggled to break away from Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling. The power play yielded limited returns Mahesh Theekshana And Wanindu Hasaranga applied early pressure with sharp turns and clever variations.
The middle overs saw a brief revival thanks to this Sikandar Raza‘s counterattack 37 and Ryan Burl‘s composed an unbeaten 37. The duo built a valuable stand to help Zimbabwe recover from a shaky start, finishing at a respectable 146/5 in their 20 overs.
Theekshana and Hasaranga were Sri Lanka’s standout bowlers, taking two wickets each while maintaining control of the run rate. Their spells ensured Zimbabwe never really accelerated despite wickets in hand.
Sri Lanka’s chase was dominated by Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant batting
Chasing 147, Sri Lanka produced a batting masterclass – their best of the tournament – single-handedly led by Nissanka, who played one of the best T20I innings of his career. The opener was impeccable from the start, combining textbook timing with calculated aggression.
Nissanka anchored the innings beautifully and ensured there was no pressure on the chasing side at any point. His strokeplay was smooth, his shot selection was assured, and Zimbabwe’s bowlers had no answers. He remained unbeaten with an astonishing 98 off just 62 deliveries, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century.
On the other hand, his partner provided solid support, helping Sri Lanka maintain a high scoring rate. Their partnership dismantled the Zimbabwean attack and sealed the chase with 22 balls to spare. Sri Lanka finished at 148/1 in 16.2 overs, securing a decisive victory that drew loud cheers from the stands and renewed excitement in the tournament.
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The qualifying scenario becomes more exciting
With this win, Sri Lanka has kept their hopes of reaching the tri-series final alive. The equation now is simple: Sri Lanka must beat Pakistan in their last league match to qualify for the finals. A loss will eliminate them and host a final between Pakistan and Zimbabwe instead. The upcoming match against Pakistan is now effectively a semi-final, which promises high stakes and plenty of drama.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Pathum Nissanka has been getting an IPL contract for a long time. This level of consistency in opening batting is not common, even among some high-end OS openers. Class player. My bet is that DC will support him. #IPL2026
— Gaurav Jois (@gaurav_jois) November 25, 2025
Pathum Nissanka accidentally winning a match with a six goes straight into my top five Lankan cricket moments this year
—Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) November 25, 2025
Pathum Nissanka won the Man of the Match award for his brilliant 98 off 58 balls, which included 11 fours and 4 sixes. Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by 9 wickets.pic.twitter.com/HhL9fBRtuQ
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) November 25, 2025
Most T20I runs for Sri Lanka
2,326* – Pathum Nissanka (76 inns)
2,305 – Kusal Perera (89 inns)#SLvWINTER pic.twitter.com/znQbdSoK3D— Rana Ahmed (@RanaAhmad056) November 26, 2025
– 1305 runs, 45 average in tests.
– 2823 runs, 40.91 average in ODIs.
– 2326 runs, 31.86 average in T20I.PATHUM NISSANKA – THE ALL SIZE SUPERSTAR FOR SRI LANKA CRICKET CURRENTLY. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/k5GNSXOXiq
— Jitendra Kumar (@jitendra60203698) November 25, 2025
90 vs New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2024)
98* vs Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 (2025)Pathum Nissanka becomes FIRST ever batsman to score multiple 90s in T20I Run Chase away from home.💔 pic.twitter.com/RErVmbeEar
— Abdul Rehman Yaseen (@Aryaseen5911) November 25, 2025
Sri Lanka finally won an international match today after losing eight matches on the trot!
Pathum Nissanka highest scores in T20Is:
107 vs IND @ Dubai, Asia Cup 2025
98* vs ZIM @ Rawalpindi, 2025
90 vs NZ @ Mount Maunganui, 2024#SLvWINTER #SLvsZIM— sudharshan sridharan (@sudharshansrid1) November 25, 2025
Pathum Nissanka’s brilliance: 98 off 58 balls*#srilankaVsZimbabwe #Pathumnissanka pic.twitter.com/LfW4NtQ9JI
— Inaam Afridi (@inaam_afri45087) November 25, 2025
Pathum Nissanka is truly Sri Lanka’s current superstar of cricket across all formats, with impressive stats. He has scored 1305 runs in Tests at an average of 45, 2823 runs in ODIs at an average of 40.91, and 2326 runs in T20 Internationals at an average of 31.86. #Cricket pic.twitter.com/s1E6bSZTlx
— Mukesh Kumar (@Mukesh7408) November 25, 2025
Pathum nissanka is the babar azam of the Sri Lanka team.
— Waleed 007 🇵🇰🇨🇦🇵🇸 (@waleedhuyaar07) November 25, 2025
– 1305 runs, 45 average in tests.
– 2823 runs, 40.91 average in ODIs.
– 2326 runs, 31.86 average in T20I.PATHUM NISSANKA – THE ALL SIZE SUPERSTAR FOR SRI LANKA CRICKET CURRENTLY. 🌟
– Hustler (@raksh__it) November 25, 2025
Also READ: Pakistan T20I Tri Series 2025: Telecast, Live Streaming Details – When and Where to Watch in India, USA, Sri Lanka and Other Countries
#Fans #erupt #Pathum #Nissankas #masterclass #helps #Sri #Lanka #crush #Zimbabwe #T20I #TriSeries #hopes #alive