Table of Contents
ToggleSri Lanka and Zimbabwe go head to head in the third SL vs ZIM T20I on Thursday, January 18. The match starts from 7 pm IST with both teams looking to win the decider in Colombo.
The series started with a three-match ODI series with Sri Lanka winning the series 2-0. Wanindu Hasaranga the SL T20I skipper took his career-best ODI figures of 7/19 to lead the hosts to a series win.
Sri Lanka bounced back with a win in the first T20I in Colombo to take the lead in the three-match series. Luke Jongwe’s heroics then ensured Zimbabwe won the second T20I and took the series to the decider. This was Zimbabwe’s first-ever T20I win against the Islanders.
Zimbabwe chasing 174 to win needed 200 to win in the final over with Jongwe and Clive Madande (15*) taking the team over the line. ODI skipper Craig Ervine initially anchored Zimbabwe’s chase. Sikandar Raza, the T20I skipper scored just 8 in this must-win clash. Finally, it was the 33-run stand between Jongwe and Madande that took Zimbabwe over the line.
Also Read: Watch- Saim Ayub Takes The Best Catch Of 2024 As Pakistan Endure Yet Another Series Loss
Zimbabwe’s win in the second T20I has set up the perfect decider in Colombo. The hosts have been challenged by the African nation in the T20I series. They have been pretty much outplayed in the first two games. Zimbabwe made life difficult for the SL batters who won the first T20I by three wickets in the 20th over.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board headed by Chief Selector Upul Tharanga named three different captains for three different formats. Dhananjaya de Silva was named the new Test captain, Kusal Mendis the ODI captain, and Wanindu Hasaranga the new T20I captain.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will be led by Sikandar Raza. He has experienced players to fall back on as well Craigb Ervine, Sean Williams, Blessing Musarabani, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe and Richard Ngarava form the core of the Zimbabwe side. Zimbwwe before the T20I series started had no wins against Sri Lanka and now have a potential chance to win the SL vs ZIM T20I series.
Speaking about SL vs ZIM head to head, both teams have played 64 ODIs with the Lankans winning 49 matches and the Zimbabweans 12. Zimbabwe finally won their first T20I against Sri Lanka by winning the second T20I. In five T20Is between the two sides, Sri Lanka have won four and Zimbabwe one. ZImbwbe are yet to win a Test match against Sri Lanka.
SL vs ZIM Head To Head Records Overall Stats
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka won | Zimbabwe won | Draw/Abandoned/NR |
| Test | 20 | 14 | – | 6 |
| ODI | 64 | 49 | 12 | 3 |
| T20I | 5 | 4 | 1 | – |
| Total | 88 | 66 | 13 | 8 |
SL vs ZIM Head To Head Records In T20Is
| Matches Played | 5 |
| Sri Lanka Won | 4 |
| Zimbabwe Won | 1 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| SL Win % | 80% |
| ZIM Win % | 20% |
| First Played On | 2008 |
| Last played On | 2024 |
SL vs ZIM Head To Head Records In ODIs
| Matches Played | 64 |
| Sri Lanka Won | 49 |
| Zimbabwe Won | 12 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 3 |
| SL Win % | 76.56% |
| ZIM Win % | 18.75% |
| First Played On | 1992 |
| Last played On | 2024 |
SL vs ZIM Head To Head Records In Tests
| Matches Played | 20 |
| Sri Lanka Won | 14 |
| Zimbabwe Won | – |
| Tied | – |
| Drawn | 6 |
| SL Win % | 70% |
| ZIM Win % | – |
| Draw % | 30% |
| First Played On | 1994 |
| Last played On | 2020 |
SL vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records in T20Is- 3rd T20I, 2024
- Matches Played – 5
- Sri Lanka Won- 4
- Zimbabwe Won- 1
- Most Runs For Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews- 182
- Most Wickets For Sri Lanka: Ajatha Mendis-6
- Most Runs For Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza-70
- Most Wickets For Zimbabwe: Blessing Muzarabani-4
Also Read: Finn Allen Smashes Record-Breaking 16 Sixes In Third T20I Against Pakistan
