T20I tri-series: Raza, Bennett power Zimbabwe to 162 against Sri Lanka
Captain Sikandar Raza and opener Brian Bennett helped Zimbabwe set a 163-run target for Sri Lanka in the second game of the T20I tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, Zimbabwe managed to score 162-8 in their allotted 20 overs despite Wanindu Hasaranga’s economical bowling spell that jolted their middle order.
Zimbabwe had a shaky start as they lost two wickets inside the powerplay. Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (10) was the first to depart, followed by Brendan Taylor (11), leaving Zimbabwe 40-2 in the sixth over.
Raza steadied the innings alongside Bennett, with the pair putting on a valuable 61-run stand for the third wicket. Bennett top-scored with a brisk 49 off 42 balls, striking five fours and a six before being dismissed by Hasaranga.
Ryan Burl provided a quickfire 18 off 11 deliveries, including two sixes, but also fell to Hasaranga. Tashinga Musekiwa was bowled by Eshan Malinga for 11, pushing Zimbabwe to 124-5 in the 16th over.
Raza anchored the innings with an aggressive 47 from 31 balls, hitting two sixes and three fours, before Dushmantha Chameera ended his stay at the crease.
Tashinga Musekiwa then added valuable runs at the backend, scoring a seven-ball 11 before falling victim to Malinga in the penultimate over.
For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga picked up three wickets, while Malinga took two. Maheesh Theekshana and Chameera made one scalp apiece.
The Sikandar Raza-led side suffered a defeat against the hosts, Pakistan, in the series opener on Tuesday, while Sri Lanka are playing their first game of the series.
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor(w), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza(c), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer
