Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka, enter Super 8 undefeated

Sikandar Raza to Kusal Mendis, Drops it short again, on off, turns in, Kusal Mendis stays back and punches it to short cover.

Sikandar Raza to Pathum Nissanka, Floated, short and on middle, Pathum Nissanka nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, Good-length delivery, on off, Pathum Nissanka stays back and guides it away to deep third for one more. Sri Lanka are 61/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

Brad Evans to Kusal Mendis, Pitched up and just outisde off, Kusal Mendis tries to drive it but ends up slicing it off the outer half of the bat to deep third for one.

Brad Evans to Kusal Mendis, Swing and a miss! Brad Evans bangs this into the pitch, around off, gets some extra bounce. Kusal Mendis goes for the pull but misses as the ball goes under his bat. The keeper, Tadiwanashe Marumani, grabs it and appeals, but nothing doing.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, Back of a length and around leg, Pathum Nissanka fails to flick it away as the ball goes off his pads towards short fine. A leg bye taken.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, Just wide! A slower delivery, full and on leg. Pathum Nissanka looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge. The ball lobs up to the right of the bowler. Brad Evans on his follow-through changes direction quickly and dives but just fails to reach it. Top effort.

Brad Evans pulls out of his delivery stride. The ground underneath him gave way just as his back foot landed on it. The umpires take this opportunity and call for Drinks. Sri Lanka have got to a flying start here, the pair who did most of the damage against the Aussies is out there in the middle for them. Nissanka has picked up from where he left off in the last game. However, Zimbabwe will hope that they can build on that wicket of Kusal Perera and put some pressure on the middle order.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Deft touch! Brad Evans lands this on a good length and around off. Pathum Nissanka waits for it, opens the face of the bat and guides it using the pace, past short third for a boundary.

The next batter walking out is... Kusal Mendis. He has been in amazing form of late. His last three scores read - 51, 61, 56*.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, OUT! CAUGHT! Blessing Muzarabani strikes in the Powerplay. Bowls a slower and shorter delivery, angling down, the leg. Kusal Perera is early into the shot and pulls it straight to Graeme Cremer at short fine leg, who makes no mistake. Kusal Perera departs for 22 off 14 balls. Sri Lanka lose their first after an impressive opening stand.

Blessing Muzarabani to Pathum Nissanka, LEG BYE! Skiddy length ball, angling into the pad. Pathum Nissanka fails to work it away and it goes off the thigh pad towards the short fine leg region for a leg bye.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, Slower ball on a length, on off. Kusal Perera allows the ball to come toward him, and dabs it toward backward point for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Pathum Nissanka, Short of a good length, angling into off. Pathum Nissanka stabs it toward the left of the backward point fielder for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, Pace off, dug into the pitch, around off. Kusal Perera dabs it to short third for one.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Hammered! Hits the length hard, angling into off. Kusal Perera picks it early and dispatches the pull toward the left of deep mid-wicket for a thundering boundary. 50 up for Sri Lanka.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Up and over! Back of a length, outside off. Sits up nicely for Pathum Nissanka, who carves it toward the deep third region for a third boundary in the over. 14 from the over, expensive start from Evans as well.

Brad Evans to Kusal Perera, LEG BYE! Back of a length, angling into the hip. Kusal Perera misses the pull and it goes off the thigh pad to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Brad Evans to Kusal Perera, Skiddy, short of a good length, around off. Kusal Perera looks to punch from the crease, but fails to connect.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, Short of a good length, around off. Pathum Nissanka steers it toward the backward point region and a fine stop from the fielder keeps it to one.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR MORE! Shot of authority! Back of a length again, just outside off. Pathum Nissanka picks it early and smashes it towards deep mid-wicket for another cracking boundary.

Brad Evans comes into the attack now.

Brad Evans to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! That's a hit-me ball! Back of a length, angling down the leg. Pathum Nissanka helps the pull past short fine leg for an easy boundary.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, Tossed up on off. Pathum Nissanka strokes it toward mid off, and a fumble from Raza allows the single. Zimbabwe have been a bit untidy in the field so far. 12 from the over.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, WIDE! Flighted and full, sliding down the leg. Pathum Nissanka plays and misses. Wide signaled.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Dispatched! Tossed up on a length, around off. Pathum Nissanka sits on his knee, takes it from outside off, and slogs it towards the deep square leg region for a boundary.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, Flatter arm ball, sliding into the middle. Pathum Nissanka goes back and punches it to the cover fielder.

Wellington Masakadza to Kusal Perera, Flatter and quicker on the leg. Kusal Perera forces the pull through the square leg region for a single.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, Looped up full, at the stumps. Pathum Nissanka eases it down to long off for one.

Wellington Masakadza to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Wellington Masakadza is greeted with a boundary! Flatter arm ball, drifting into the leg pole. Pathum Nissanka sits low to sweep, gets the top edge that flies over the short fine leg fielder for a streaky boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Put away! Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Kusal Perera swings hard and swivel-pulls it past the man at short fine leg for another boundary. Sri Lanka are 20/0 after two overs.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, Back-of-a-length delivery, 137.7 clicks, around off. Kusal Perera looks to swivel pull, but it comes off the cue end, rolls toward the man at short cover.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, Short of a good length, angling away from the batter. Kusal Perera throws his bat and slices the drive over point for two more.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Smashed! Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Kusal Perera goes through with the shot and hacks it over the man at short mid-wicket for a boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Kusal Perera, Short of a good length, around the middle and off-stump line. Kusal Perera looks to pull, but misses and wears around the thigh pad.

Blessing Muzarabani to Pathum Nissanka, Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Pathum Nissanka tucks it through the backward square leg region for a single.

Who will share the attack? It will be Blessing Muzarabani.

Sikandar Raza to Pathum Nissanka, Tossed up and full, around off. Pathum Nissanka drives it to the wide of mid off, and a slight misfield again allows an easy run. 9 runs from the opening over.

Sikandar Raza to Kusal Perera, Flatter and quicker, just outside off. Kusal Perera knocks it toward the man at point and a fumble from the fielder allows the single.

Sikandar Raza to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Nicely done! Flatter delivery, turning away, around off. Kusal Perera plays it late and steers it through the gap at the backward point region for a lovely boundary.

Sikandar Raza to Pathum Nissanka, Flatter, turning into off. Pathum Nissanka nudges it to square leg for one.

Sikandar Raza to Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka are away! Tad short, outside off. Pathum Nissanka pulls it hard toward the gap at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Sikandar Raza to Pathum Nissanka, Sikandar Raza starts with a tossed up delivery, on the full, and on the pad. Pathum Nissanka sweeps and finds the man at short fine leg.

We are all set to begin! It is an overcast afternoon in Colombo. It is not a full house yet, but the fans are still coming in and filling up the stands. We can see the Zimbabwe players spread out and take up the fielding positions. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera are the two openers for Sri Lanka. Some spin straightaway as Sikandar Raza takes the new ball. Let's play...

We are moments away from the start of the game, but before that, the players from both sides make their way out to the middle for the respective national anthems. It will be Zimbabwe's first, followed by that of Sri Lanka.

PITCH REPORT - Aaron Finch is near the playing area and starts by saying that it is hot and humid in Colombo, conditions that can sap the energy out of even the keenest outfielders. The Aussie informs that the square boundaries measure 71 and 76 metres, while straight down the ground stretches to a monstrous 82 metres, a proper hit if you are thinking of going aerial. Russel Arnold also chips in and observes that there is a hint of grass on the surface and expects it to play slightly sluggish. He reckons the effective length could be a touch shorter than usual and suggests that the batters would do well to find the gaps rather than take on the fielders, considering the dimensions of the ground. In his view, 170 could shape up as a very competitive total on this track.

Building a winning habit is a key focus - Sikandar Raza, the skipper of Zimbabwe, says the wicket should play well throughout the match and that they were keen to bowl first anyway. He hopes the bowlers make full use of the conditions and restrict Sri Lanka to a low total. Raza adds that topping the group and advancing to the Super 8 stage is a massive confidence boost for the side. With a full house expected today, he is hopeful of turning some Sri Lankan supporters into Zimbabwe fans by the end of the game. Raza also mentions that building a winning habit has been a key focus for the team, something he sees as a big positive. He confirms that Zimbabwe will field an unchanged XI.

The batters need to spend time at the crease - Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan captain, says the batters need to spend time at the crease and score runs. He confirms that Dilshan Madushanka and Pramod Madushan come into the side, while Dushmantha Chameera is rested. Shanaka admits that injuries are challenging, as the team always wants its best players available, but says they must adapt to the situation. He adds that their fielding has shown improvement, several key areas have worked in their favour, and he hopes the team can build on that momentum today.

Zimbabwe (Unchanged Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (C), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka (In place of Matheesha Pathirana), Pramod Madushan (In place of Dushmantha Chameera).