Colombo is all set to host the SL vs ZIM third T20I on January 18. The match starts at 7 pm IST. This is the decider between the two sides with the series levelled at 1-1.
Zimbabwe bounced back with a magnificent win in the second T20I. They chased down the 174 required to win in the penultimate delivery of the match. Luke Jonge’s all-around show was critical to his team’s win in the SL vs ZIM second T20I.
The chase was set up by Craig Ervine who scored 70 off 54 balls. Brian Bennett playing his fifth T20I scored a crucial 25 off 20 balls. Jongwe then added a 35-run stand with Clive Madande (15 off 5) to win the match and level the series.
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka were tottering at 27/4 before Angelo Mathews (66*) and Charith Asalanka (69) added a 118-run stand to take the team score to 173/6. Luke Jongwe and Blessing Musarababi took two wickets each with Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza taking one each.
Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the hosts while Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe. Interestingly, Zimbabwe won their first-ever T20I against Sri Lanka by winning the second T20I. Hasaranga picked up his career-best seven-wicket haul in the third ODI making a comeback after an injury layoff.
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The two teams have played 64 ODIs with the Lankans winning 49 games and the Aftercan nation 12. Three matches have ended in no result with the first ODI being the latest. The two teams have played just five T20Is with Zimbabwe recently picking up their first-ever win. Sri Lanka have won 14 of the 20 Test matches played between the two sides while Zimbabwe hasn’t won any to date.
The visitors have pushed Zimbabwe back in both the SL vs ZIM T20Is. In the first T20I, Sri Lanka won off the final over of the game, and in the second, Sri Lanka could not prevent Zimbabwe from putting up a strong performance.
Talking about Colombo as a venue in recent times, it has been prone to rain during the Asia Cup 2023. The first ODI was also washed out and there have been rain interruptions in the following games as well. It is one of the oldest venues in international cricket and one that has seen many close encounters.
SL vs ZIM Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Stadium – 3rd T20I, 2024
Colombo is amongst the oldest cricket stadiums in the world. It has hosted 164 ODIs and 57 T20I matches. 23 matches have been won by the team batting first and 33 by the team chasing. The average first innings score is around 150 and the average second innings score is around 130. So far both the matches have been won by the team chasing.
The temperature throughout the day on Thursday will be around 31 degrees with 74 percent humidity. The temperature will be around 25 degrees in the evening with chances of rain up to 25 percent as well.
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