ZIM vs SL 1st T20I: Pitch Report, Head-to-Head, Playing 11, AI Prediction

The Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe continues with the 1st T20 International (T20I) match at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. Indian fans can watch live coverage of this game starting at 5:00 PM IST on Wednesday, 3rd September. After dominating the two-match ODI series by a clean 2-0 sweep, Sri Lanka aims to continue their winning momentum in the shorter format, while Zimbabwe looks to bounce back on home soil.

Match Details: ZIM vs SL

Detail	Information
Series	Sri Lanka Tour of Zimbabwe 2025
Match	Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I
Venue	Harare Sports Club, Harare
Date & Time	3rd September 2025, 5:00 PM IST
Live Streaming	Fancode

Match Preview

In the 2nd ODI of the tour, Sri Lanka secured a 5-wicket victory behind the brilliance of opening batter Pathum Nissanka, who scored a commanding 122 runs from 136 balls, hitting 16 boundaries. Nissanka’s supreme form earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors, highlighting why he is regarded as one of the world’s top openers.

Looking at the T20 landscape, there is a notable ranking gap: Zimbabwe ranks 12th in the ICC Men's T20 rankings, struggling after losing all four matches in their recent T20 Tri-Series involving New Zealand and South Africa. Sri Lanka, placed 7th, has also faced setbacks recently, losing a three-match T20 series to Bangladesh 1-2 in July 2025. Both sides are eager to rebound, with Zimbabwe led by the experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and Sri Lanka guided by batting all-rounder Charith Asalanka.

Head-to-Head Stats: ZIM vs SL

Team	Matches Won
Zimbabwe	1
Sri Lanka	5
No Result/Tied	0

Sri Lanka has historically maintained a strong upper hand against Zimbabwe in T20Is.

Weather & Pitch Report

Temperature: 26-28° C
Humidity: 30-35%
Rain Chances: 0%
Pitch Behavior: Batting-friendly, with good carry for pacers.
Best Suited To: Fast bowlers could enjoy movement with the new ball, while batters will find plenty of scoring opportunities once settled.

Probable Playing 11

Zimbabwe (ZIM) Playing 11

1. Ben Curran, 2. Brian Bennett, 3. Brendan Taylor(WK), 4. Sean Williams, 5. Sikandar Raza, 6. Clive Madande(WK), 7. Tony Munyonga, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Richard Ngarava, 10. Ernest Masuku, 11. Blessing Muzarabani

Sri Lanka (SL) Playing 11

1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Nishan Madushka(WK), 3. Kusal Mendis(WK), 4. Sadeera Samarawickrama(WK), 5. Charith Asalanka(C), 6. Janith Liyanage, 7. Kamindu Mendis, 8. Dushmantha Chameera, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Asitha Fernando, 11. Dilshan Madushanka

Who Will Win Today’s Match? (AI Prediction)

Looking at the form and balance of both sides, Sri Lanka appear stronger on paper. Their batting unit, led by Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Asalanka, looks solid, while their bowling attack has the pace of Chameera and Madushanka alongside the spin of Theekshana.

Zimbabwe, under Sikandar Raza, will rely heavily on senior players like Raza himself, Brendan Taylor, and Sean Williams to put up a fight. However, their recent struggles in T20 cricket and lack of consistency could hurt them.

AI Prediction: Sri Lanka are favorites to win the 1st T20I and take an early lead in the three-match series.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Full List of All Team Squads Announced