Sri Lanka’s must-win clash against Zimbabwe in the Pakistan T20I tri-series turned into the Pathum Nissanka show, as the opener’s unbeaten 98 off 58 balls kept his team alive in the race for the final and ended a worrying losing streak. His calculated onslaught not only delivered a nine‑wicket win in Rawalpindi but also underlined his status as Sri Lanka’s premier T20I run‑scorer on a night of high stakes.
Match context and stakes
Sri Lanka came into the fifth match of the Pakistan T20I tri-series under immense pressure, having lost their previous five T20Is and yet to register a win on this tour. Defeat against Zimbabwe would have knocked them out of contention for the final, turning this encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium into a virtual knockout.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, had their eyes on exploiting Sri Lanka’s poor form and tightening their own grip on a spot in the final. With Pakistan already assured of a place in the title match, the result of this game was always going to reshape the qualification scenario heading into the last league fixture.
Zimbabwe’s innings: bowlers seize control
Batting first on a sluggish surface, Zimbabwe were restricted to 146 for 5, a total that always felt 15–25 runs short of par given the ground dimensions and conditions. Sri Lanka’s attack, led by their spinners, focused on tight lines and variation in pace, denying the batters any sustained momentum.
Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga were outstanding through the middle overs, both returning identical figures of 2 for 23 from their four overs to squeeze Zimbabwe’s scoring rate. Ryan Burl and captain Sikandar Raza provided late resistance, with Burl’s busy 37 off 26 balls lifting the total to respectability, but Sri Lanka walked off knowing they had dictated the innings.
Nissanka’s masterclass: numbers and tempo
Chasing 147, Nissanka delivered one of the most complete T20I innings of his career, remaining unbeaten on 98 from 58 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. His strike rate hovered close to 170, and he paced the chase so efficiently that Sri Lanka got home in just 16.2 overs at 148 for 1, with a massive 22 balls to spare.
The innings was a blend of orthodoxy and aggression: crisp drives through the off side, whip-like pulls, and calculated assaults on Zimbabwe’s seamers whenever they missed their lengths. Nissanka’s performance was all the more significant because it snapped Sri Lanka’s five‑match T20I losing streak and came in a situation where any failure would have meant elimination.
Partnerships and key moments in the chase
Sri Lanka’s reply began with a brisk opening stand that set the tone, racing to 59 in the powerplay and marking their best first-six-overs performance of the series. Kamil Mishara’s 12 ended with a sharp catch at midwicket, Zimbabwe’s only breakthrough, but by then Nissanka had already imposed himself on the attack.
After Mishara’s dismissal, Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka for an unbroken 89‑run partnership that completely shut Zimbabwe out of the contest. Mendis’ controlled 25 not out off 25 balls allowed Nissanka to dictate the tempo while ensuring that there was never any scoreboard pressure as the target came into sight.
How Nissanka built his innings
Nissanka’s knock was a model of structured T20 batting: a measured start, consolidation, and then ruthless acceleration. He reached his fifty off 38 balls, having first ensured a dominant powerplay with 37 of Sri Lanka’s 64 runs in that phase, before shifting gears through the middle overs.
His approach against spin and pace was notably different: he showed respect and patience against Sikandar Raza’s tight four‑over spell that conceded just 17 runs, then targeted the seamers with clean hitting down the ground and across the line. Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, and Tinotenda Maposa all came under heavy fire as Nissanka picked off anything fractionally short or overpitched, especially in the arc between midwicket and extra cover.
Agony at 98* and historic milestone
The only blemish, if it can be called that, was the narrow miss of a richly deserved century. With Sri Lanka needing just a handful of runs, Nissanka struck Ngarava for a four and a towering six in the 17th over, moving from the low 90s to 98 but leaving himself no more balls to reach three figures as the winning hit also ended the match.
Yet the innings carried deeper significance: during this knock, Nissanka overtook Kusal Perera to become Sri Lanka’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals. Achieving that mark in a must-win game underscored his evolution from promising talent to the batting fulcrum of the national side in the shortest format.
Impact on tri-series standings
This emphatic nine‑wicket win blew the tri-series wide open and ensured Sri Lanka’s fate remains in their own hands. By securing their first points of the tournament and boosting their net run rate with a quick chase, Sri Lanka set up a high‑stakes showdown against Pakistan in the final league match.
The equation is now straightforward: a Sri Lankan victory over the hosts will send them into the final, while a defeat would see Zimbabwe qualify instead thanks to a superior net run rate despite losing this game. For Zimbabwe, the loss to Nissanka’s brilliance means their hopes rest on Pakistan doing them a favour in the last group fixture.
What this means for Sri Lanka and Nissanka
For Sri Lanka, this performance offered a template for how they want to play T20 cricket: disciplined bowling, smart use of spin, and a top order anchored by a high‑class opener who can both stabilize and attack. The confidence gained from ending a prolonged losing streak, and doing it so decisively, will be invaluable as they prepare to face Pakistan in another must-win clash.
For Nissanka personally, the unbeaten 98* serves as both a statement and a reminder, he is now the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s T20I batting and capable of dominating quality attacks on demanding nights. If he carries this form into the decisive game against Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s dream of turning a faltering campaign into a title run will remain very much alive.