Zimbabwe set a new team record in men's T20Is, bowling Sri Lanka out for 80 in Harare on Saturday (September 6).
The second T20I between the sides saw Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza win the toss and ask the visitors to bat first. His decision saw a near-immediate reward as Blessing Muzarabani came steaming in for the second over of the innings, and struck with his first ball to remove Kusal Mendis.
2nd T20I, Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Fourteen deliveries later, Mendis' opening partner Pathum Nissanka followed him back to the dressing room after Tony Munyonga took an excellent catch diving forward off the bowling of Brad Evans. Sri Lanka would lose two more wickets inside the Powerplay as rookies Nuwanidu Fernando and Kamil Mishara respectively became Muzarabani and Evans' second victims.
It did not get much better after the fielding restrictions were lifted. Five balls into the seventh over, Sri Lanka had lost half their side for 38 when Kamindu Mendis was trapped in front by Raza.
Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka then put on 26 runs, a solid stand in the context of the game. The breakthrough came from Sean Williams, who induced a top edge from Shanaka to have him caught at short third. Skipper Asalanka went the next over as his opposite number breached his defence to rattle the stumps and two balls later, Dushmantha Chameera became Raza's second lbw victim.
There was a mini-recovery from 66-8 to 79-8 before Dushan Hemantha was run out. The final wicket fell in the 18th over, as Maheesh Theekshana skied a back-of-length delivery from Evans, for Raza to complete the catch. The Zimbabwe skipper was the standout bowler with 3-11 from his four overs, as Evans took 3-15 in 2.4.
This is now the lowest total for which Zimbabwe have bowled out a Full Member nation in men's T20I cricket. The previous lowest was Pakistan's 99 at the same venue in April 2021. Zimbabwe have bowled out four Associate nations for lower scores – The Gambia (54), Mozambique (56), Rwanda (71) and Canada (75).
Lowest all-out totals by Full Members against Zimbabwe
| Team | Score | Venue | Start Date |
| Sri Lanka | 80 | Harare | September 6, 2025 |
| Pakistan | 99 | Harare | April 23, 2021 |
| India | 102 | Harare | July 6, 2024 |
| Ireland | 114 | Harare | January 12, 2023 |
| Ireland | 119 | Bready | September 4, 2021 |
| Bangladesh | 143 | Harare | July 23, 2021 |
| Bangladesh | 143 | Mirpur | May 10, 2024 |
| Bangladesh | 162 | Khulna | January 22, 2016 |
| Bangladesh | 166 | Khulna | November 28, 2006 |
Image credit: X / Zimbabwe Cricket
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