Zimbabwe takes on Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I in Colombo on January 18. The match starts from 7 pm IST with the visitors in with a chance to win their first-ever T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe notched up a momentous win in the second T20I which was their very first against Sri Lanka in T20I. Luke Jongwe (25 off 12) and Clive Madande (15 off 5) added 35 runs together scoring 20 off the final over to win the game for the side.
The win has now put the visitors in a position to win a T20I series in Sri Lanka. They started by losing the ODI series but fought back really well. Sikandar Raza, the skipper has not had much contribution to do with the bat but certainly will get his chance in this decider.
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Zimbabwe named their T20I side with Sikandar Raza to lead the side. He was named the 2023 T20I Player Of The Year having scored over 500 runs and taken 17 wickets last year. Craig Ervine the ODI skipper will play as a specialist batter in T20Is for Zimbabwe. The African nation is yet to win in T20Is against Sri Lanka.
Both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe had a lean 2023. The Islanders lost the Asia Cup final and had a forgetful 2023 World Cup winning just two matches in the tournament. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 and lost to Uganda in the African regional qualifier.
Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka – 3rd T20I, 2024
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe
Tinashe will open the batting in the decider for Zimbabwe. He scored 26 in the first T20I and 12 in the second. He is a designated opener for the visitors.
Craig Ervine
Craig Ervine will be the other opener. He scored 70 off 54 balls in the second T20I, to set the base for a good run-chase. Ervine is inching closer to 1500 T20I runs.
Brian Bennett
Bennett will slot in at three. He has played five T20Is and scored 63 runs with a highest of 27. He scored 235 off 20 balls in the second T20I.
Sikandar Raza (C)
Skipper Raza will slot in at four. He scored a fabulous 62 in the first T20I but just 8 in the second. He bowled a spell of 4/25. He has now taken 58 wickets in 80 T20Is and approaching 1900 runs in the format.
Sean Williams
Ryan Burl
Luke Jongwe
Jongwe will slot in at seven. He batted at seven in the previous game scored a match-winning 25 and took two wickets. He also shared his admiration for Angelo Mathews heading into the decider.
Clive Madande (WK)
Madande will slot in at eight as the specialist wicketkeeper. He scored 15 off 5 balls to win the match for Zimbabwe alongside Jongwe. He has a best of 44 in the format.
Wellington Masakadza
Masakadza the left-arm spinner will slot in at nine. He bowled a good spell of 1 for 25 in the second T20I. He has now taken 38 wickets from 45 matches.
Blessing Musarabani
Musarabani will lead the Zimbabwe bowling attack. He took 2/36 in the second T20I. He is the leader of the bowling attack across formats having taken 53 wickets from 45 T20Is.
Richard Ngarava
Ngarava concludes the predicted playing XI for Zimbabwe in the decider. He took one wicket each in the first two games. He and Musarabai took early wickets in the last game and the aim should be the same.
Also Read: SL vs ZIM: He Used To Be My Wallpaper – Luke Jongwe Relishes Playing Against Idol Angelo Mathews
