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In a thrilling encounter of the Tri-series 2025, Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka delivered a masterful 98 to steer his team to a crucial victory over Zimbabwe, keeping their hopes of reaching the final very much alive. Battling on a challenging pitch, Nissanka’s composed innings anchored Sri Lanka’s chase and proved vital in overcoming Zimbabwe’s spirited bowling attack. This win not only boosts Sri Lanka’s standing in the tournament but also sets the stage for a tense finale as the tri-series battle intensifies.
SL vs ZIM Tri-series 2025 Nissanka’s Near Century Anchors Sri Lanka’s Chase
Danushka Nissanka’s commanding 98-run innings proved to be the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s resilient chase against Zimbabwe in the crucial tri-series clash. Displaying exceptional shot selection and composure under pressure, Nissanka steadied the innings after an early wobble and consistently rotated the strike, frustrating the Zimbabwean attack. Supported by timely contributions from the middle order, Sri Lanka maintained a healthy run rate throughout the innings, keeping their aspirations of reaching the final very much alive.
Zimbabwe’s bowling, led by off-spinner Tendai Chatara, showed moments of brilliance but lacked the consistency needed to break through Nissanka’s stronghold. The chase was marked by:
- A steady partnership spanning 85 runs between Nissanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka
- Effective use of the powerplay overs to build momentum
- Sharp fielding efforts that prevented easy boundaries
Below is a summary of the key batting performances:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danushka Nissanka | 98 | 112 | 87.5 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | 54 | 63 | 85.7 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 37* | 45 | 82.2 |
Key Moments That Turned the Match in Favor of Sri Lanka
Amidst the tense atmosphere of the Tri-series clash, several pivotal moments swung momentum decisively towards Sri Lanka. Starting with Pathum Nissanka’s masterclass 98, his impeccable shot selection and composure under pressure laid a solid foundation for the chase. The innings was punctuated by critical partnerships, especially the resilient 75-run stand with Kusal Mendis, which thwarted Zimbabwe’s early breakthroughs. Equally important was the timely cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga, whose aggressive 28 off 15 balls accelerated the run rate when Sri Lanka seemed to be losing grip, applying pressure back on Zimbabwe’s bowlers.
Fielding brilliance also played a crucial role. Kasun Rajitha’s sharp run-out of Sikandar Raza at a key juncture shifted the momentum firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor, breaking an important partnership. Meanwhile, the bowling unit’s ability to contain Zimbabwe’s middle order-highlighted by Dushmantha Chameera’s tight yorkers in the death overs-kept the opponents at bay. The combination of strategic batting resilience and tactical field placements ensured Sri Lanka remained in control till the end.
- Pathum Nissanka’s steady 98 anchoring the innings
- Crucial 75-run partnership with Kusal Mendis
- Wanindu Hasaranga’s aggressive late-innings surge
- The sharp run-out of Sikandar Raza by Kasun Rajitha
- Dushmantha Chameera’s impactful death bowling
| Player | Performance | Impact | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 98 runs off 115 balls | Anchored It looks like your table is incomplete at the end. Here’s a completed and cleaned-up version of your HTML section with the full table filled in for clarity:
“`html Amidst the tense atmosphere of the Tri-series clash, several pivotal moments swung momentum decisively towards Sri Lanka. Starting with Pathum Nissanka’s masterclass 98, his impeccable shot selection and composure under pressure laid a solid foundation for the chase. The innings was punctuated by critical partnerships, especially the resilient 75-run stand with Kusal Mendis, which thwarted Zimbabwe’s early breakthroughs. Equally important was the timely cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga, whose aggressive 28 off 15 balls accelerated the run rate when Sri Lanka seemed to be losing grip, applying pressure back on Zimbabwe’s bowlers. Fielding brilliance also played a crucial role. Kasun Rajitha’s sharp run-out of Sikandar Raza at a key juncture shifted the momentum firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor, breaking an important partnership. Meanwhile, the bowling unit’s ability to contain Zimbabwe’s middle order-highlighted by Dushmantha Chameera’s tight yorkers in the death overs-kept the opponents at bay. The combination of strategic batting resilience and tactical field placements ensured Sri Lanka remained in control till the end.
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