Zimbabwe crushes Sri Lanka by 67 runs in T20 tri-series

Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by 67 runs in the T20 tri-series at Rawalpindi, with Sikandar Raza scoring 47 and Brad Evans taking 3-9. Sri Lanka collapsed for 95, continuing a poor tour after losing the ODI series 3-0 to Pakistan

Rawalpindi: Captain Sikandar Raza and fast bowler Brad Evans inspired Zimbabwe to its biggest Twenty20 win over Sri Lanka on Thursday, by 67 runs.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for 95 on the final ball in its opening match of the tri-series. Evans took 3-9 and all six Zimbabwe bowlers claimed wickets.

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Zimbabwe posted a competitive total of 162-8 after being sent in to bat. Raza made 47 off 32 balls and opener Brian Bennett scored 49, narrowly missing a second successive half-century.

“You want to be there when the chips are down and be prepared to do the dirty work for the team,” Raza said. “If I’m trying, I feel my team is going to try.”

Sri Lanka is enduring a poor white-ball tour of Pakistan, having lost the ODI series 3-0 before the tri-series.

The visitors never found momentum after Pathum Nissanka fell for a five-ball duck and Kusal Perera top-edged fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa, leaving them 25-2 inside the powerplay. Captain Dasun Shanaka (34) was one of only two Sri Lankans to reach double figures.

“The intent was not there from the beginning,” said Shanaka, who was made captain for the tri-series after Charith Asalanka returned home unwell. “We cannot accept this with the players and experience we’ve got.”

Bennett and Raza had earlier put up a spirited fight in Zimbabwe’s opening loss to Pakistan and featured again on Thursday. Bennett struck three off-side boundaries in the second over and combined with Raza in a 61-run stand.

Raza perished in the death overs, brilliantly caught by Shanaka at wide long-off, but Zimbabwe added 46 runs in the last five overs.

Sri Lanka will face Pakistan on Saturday.