Historic Victory for Zimbabwe in T20 Cricket
In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Zimbabwe secured their biggest Twenty20 victory in history on Thursday, November 20, 2025, defeating Sri Lanka by a massive 67-run margin in the tri-series match held in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The comprehensive win marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwean cricket as they outplayed their more experienced opponents in every department of the game.
Dominant Bowling Performance Seals the Win
After being sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe posted a competitive total of 162-8 in their 20 overs. The innings was built around strong contributions from opening batter Brian Bennett, who scored 49 runs just missing his second successive half-century, and captain Sikandar Raza, who played a captain's knock of 47 runs from just 32 deliveries. The pair combined in a crucial 61-run partnership that laid the foundation for Zimbabwe's total.
The real story unfolded during Sri Lanka's chase, where Zimbabwe's bowling attack put on a clinical display. Fast bowler Brad Evans was the standout performer with exceptional figures of 3-9, while remarkably all six Zimbabwean bowlers managed to take wickets. Sri Lanka's batting lineup completely collapsed, being bowled out for 95 runs on the final ball of their innings.
Sri Lanka's Tour Woes Continue
This defeat adds to Sri Lanka's ongoing struggles during their white-ball tour of Pakistan. Prior to this tri-series, the team had suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the ODI series against Pakistan. Their batting woes were evident from the start of the chase when they lost key batsmen early - Pathum Nissanka departed for a five-ball duck while Kusal Perera top-edged fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa as they stumbled to 25-2 within the powerplay.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, who scored 34 runs and was one of only two batsmen to reach double figures, didn't mince words in his assessment. "The intent was not there from the beginning," Shanaka admitted. "We cannot accept this with the players and experience we've got." Shanaka had taken over captaincy duties for the tri-series after regular captain Charith Asalanka returned home due to illness.
The victory provides massive momentum for Zimbabwe as they look ahead in the tournament, while Sri Lanka faces increasing pressure to turn their fortunes around when they take on Pakistan in their next match on Saturday.
