Sri Lanka will meet Zimbabwe in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, February 19. Both teams are unbeaten so far and will look to maintain their winning streak before advancing to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, as co-hosts, has performed exceptionally well in this tournament. They secured a spot in the Super Eight by defeating Australia by 8 wickets in their last match. They have won all three of their matches so far, successfully chasing a target of 183 runs in just 18 overs. Pathum Nissanka was a standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 100 from 52 balls, marking his second T20I century. Kusal Mendis contributed with his third consecutive half-century, scoring 51 runs. Dushan Hemantha was effective with the ball, taking three wickets in that match.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe made headlines by qualifying for the Super Eight after their recent match against Ireland was abandoned due to rain, finishing with 5 points. Their victory over Australia was a significant boost, as they won by 23 runs. On a challenging batting surface, Zimbabwe scored 169 runs, led by Brian Bennett’s solid 64 runs from 56 balls. Ryan Burl and T Marumani added 35 each, while Sikandar Raza scored 25 runs off just 13 balls. Their bowlers excelled, bowling Australia out for 146 runs, with Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans taking seven wickets between them. Zimbabwe aims to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament.
SL vs ZIM Match Details
| SL vs ZIM T20I WC Match Details | |
| Match | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 38th T20I Match |
| Date and Time | Thursday, February 19; 3:00 p.m. IST |
| Venue | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Broadcasting and Live Streaming | TV-Star Sports Network, Live Stream-JioHotstar |
SL vs ZIM T20 WC Pitch Report
The pitch at R Premadasa Stadium has been favorable for batting during the series. Teams have been able to score well, with bowlers also claiming wickets during middle overs. Fast bowlers get good bounce early on, but as the match continues, the surface tends to become more advantageous for batting. The average first-innings total here is around 165 runs.
SL vs ZIM T20 WC Weather Report
The weather is predicted to be humid and cloudy, with a 10% chance of rain during the match. As this is an evening game, conditions may be slightly cooler, with temperatures expected to range between 21-25 °C under cloudy skies.
SL vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records
| SL vs ZIM head-to-head (in T20s) | |
| Matches Played | 18 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 8 |
| Won by Zimbabwe | 8 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 2 |
SL vs ZIM Probable XI
- Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
- Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, T Marumani (wk), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Graeme Cremer.
Players to Watch in the SL vs ZIM Match
- Pathum Nissanka | SL: Nissanka is a key batter for Sri Lanka, having scored an unbeaten century in his last match against Australia. He has accumulated 137 runs in three matches with an impressive average of 68.5, making him a player to watch.
- Kusal Mendis | SL: Mendis has also been performing strongly, with three consecutive half-centuries totaling 168 runs in three matches at an average of 84. His recent scores are 56*, 61, and 51.
- Brian Bennett | ZIM: Bennett has shown excellent form, scoring 48 and 64 runs in his first two matches. His ability to play various shots makes him a pivotal player for Zimbabwe.
- Blessing Muzarabani | ZIM: Muzarabani has been Zimbabwe’s leading bowler, taking 7 wickets in two matches, including four wickets against Australia in his last outing.
SL vs ZIM Toss Prediction
Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue
- In the last 7 T20 matches at this venue, the team winning the toss has chosen to bowl first in four instances and decided to bat in three.
Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch
- From a total of 53 T20I matches at this venue, teams that batted first have won 23 times, while teams bowling first have triumphed in 28 instances.
SL vs ZIM Today’s Match Scenario
Scenario 1
- Toss Winner: ZIM (opts to bat first)
- Power Play Score: 45-50
- ZIM Total: 180-190
- Match Winner: ZIM
Scenario 2
- Toss Winner: SL (opts to bat first)
- Power Play Score: 36-40
- SL Total: 130-140
- Match Winner: SL
Who will win today’s SL vs ZIM T20 World Cup match?
With the home advantage, Sri Lanka is favored to win this match. However, Zimbabwe’s impressive form in this tournament means they could pose a threat. Given their recent head-to-head record, Sri Lanka is expected to secure the victory.
