Zimbabwe Crush Sri Lanka by 67 Runs in Historic Rawalpindi Rout.

Zimbabwe Crush Sri Lanka by 67 Runs in Historic Rawalpindi Rout.

Zimbabwe Stun Sri Lanka by 67 Runs in Rawalpindi Thriller: Raza Masterclass, Bowlers Run Riot as Chevrons Record Historic Victory.

                    Rawalpindi, 21 November 2025 – In a performance that will be spoken about for years in Zimbabwean cricket circles, Sikandar Raza’s men produced one of the most complete T20I displays in their history to demolish Sri Lanka by 67 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

            Chasing a modest 163, Sri Lanka were skittled for a paltry 95 — their lowest total ever against Zimbabwe and the fourth-lowest by a Full Member nation in T20I cricket on Pakistani soil.

This was only the third time Zimbabwe have bowled out a Full Member side for under 100 in T20Is, having previously dismissed Pakistan for 99 (2021) and Sri Lanka for 80 (September 2025) — both in Harare. The 67-run margin is now Zimbabwe’s largest ever victory against a Full Member team in the format, eclipsing the previous best of 31 runs on three separate occasions.

For captain Sikandar Raza, who picked up 1-23 and effected a crucial run-out while top-scoring with a brisk 40-ball 52, it was another reminder of why he sits second on the all-time list for most Player-of-the-Match awards in men’s T20Is (19), behind only Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh (22).

Raza: “I have to keep doing it all the time”

Speaking immediately after being named Player of the Match for the umpteenth time, the 39-year-old all-rounder refused to single out his batting or bowling contributions.

“No, I think I need to keep doing it all the time — being energetic and electrifying,” Raza said with his trademark intensity. “As a captain you’ve got to lead from the front in every department. When the team sees the captain turning up for every training session, putting in the hard yards in fielding, bowling, batting — it sets a standard. Because we have a very young squad, they follow what they see.”

Raza, who became only the third man after Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Nabi to reach the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in men’s T20Is earlier this year, added that individual performances were secondary to the bigger picture.

“Neither (batting nor bowling) to be honest,” he replied when asked what pleased him more. “What pleases me most is the vision from the board down to the team — to take the country forward. When I look around the dressing room and see how the boys carry themselves, how happy they are for each other’s success — that’s the most satisfying thing. It tells me we’re moving in the right direction with dignity and the right values.”

Clinical with the ball, ruthless in the field

Zimbabwe’s bowlers hunted in packs. Richard Ngarava (2-15) struck in the very first over, banging one in and forcing Pathum Nissanka to glove a pull to fine-leg. Tinotenda Maposa followed up in the second over by castling Kusal Perera for a duck. From 5-2, Sri Lanka never recovered.

A comical run-out ended Kusal Mendis’s stay, Bhanuka Rajapaksa holed out attempting an irresponsible slog, and Wanindu Hasaranga picked out deep mid-wicket against Graeme Cremer. Dasun Shanaka waged a lone battle with 34 from 25 balls — including two towering sixes — but once he top-edged Ryan Burl to long-on, the writing was on the wall.

Brad Evans (3-9) and Ngarava returned to mop up the tail with venomous short-pitched bowling and pinpoint yorkers. Sri Lanka’s last five wickets fell for just 13 runs in 4.3 overs as they played almost exclusively for net run-rate preservation in the end.

Zimbabwe’s pace trio targeted the perfect lengths relentlessly. Of the 66 legitimate deliveries bowled by their quicks, 36 were short (ER 3.5), 20 were good length (ER 1.8), and only 10 were full (ER 5.4). It was a masterclass in subcontinental T20 bowling on a surface offering variable bounce.

Shanaka: “The intent just wasn’t there from the beginning”

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka did not mince words in the post-match presentation.

“Absolutely, it was a tough one,” he admitted. “I think the intent just wasn’t there from the beginning. Credit to the Zimbabwean bowlers — they bowled really well with the right lines and good variation. If we had shown a bit more intent up top without being reckless, we could’ve done much better.”

“With the kind of players and experience we have, this performance isn’t acceptable. These are surfaces where we need to maximise our opportunities, but we simply didn’t.”

Shanaka confirmed interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya — seen having an animated 10-minute conversation with him immediately after the game — would be having strong words with the group.

“I’m sure he will have a strong word or two,” Shanaka said. “You know the kind of cricket he played; he’s a legend of the game and understands pressure situations better than anyone. He’s always backed us, but unfortunately we couldn’t deliver today.”

What the result means

The victory catapults Zimbabwe to the top half of their group and gives them a massive NRR boost (+3.350 after two games). Sri Lanka, meanwhile, suffer a severe dent (-3.350) with plenty of work still to do in the remaining matches.

Zimbabwe’s head-to-head record against Sri Lanka in T20Is now reads played 6, won 3 — including three successive victories since January 2024.
Brief Scores

Zimbabwe 162-7 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 52, Brian Bennett 34, Maheesh Theekshana 3-28) beat Sri Lanka 95 in 19.6 overs (Dasun Shanaka 34, Brad Evans 3-9, Richard Ngarava 2-15) by 67 runs.

Player of the Match: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)

Key Stats
Largest victory margin for Zimbabwe vs Full Member in T20Is: 67 runs
Lowest Sri Lanka total vs Zimbabwe in T20Is: 95
Zimbabwe have now beaten Sri Lanka three times in their last four T20I meetings
Sikandar Raza: 19 POTM awards in T20Is — second only to Virandeep Singh (22)

As the Zimbabwe players celebrated long into the Rawalpindi night, one thing was crystal clear: under Sikandar Raza’s leadership, this is no longer a team content with moral victories. The Chevrons have arrived — and the cricket world is finally taking notice.