SL vs ZIM 3rd T20 Match Prediction & Betting Tips
With the series evenly poised at 1-1, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe play the final T20I of the series on Thursday evening at the R Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka won the opening game by 3 wickets from the final ball of the match before Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets with 1 ball remaining on Tuesday. Read on as we preview this third T20I. The match gets underway in Colombo at 19:00 local time.
Sri Lanka can not say that the defeat on Tuesday was a huge surprise as Zimbabwe have run them very close in two of the previous games on this tour. Top order runs are needed for the hosts on Thursday and they should have enough quality to win the fixture and take the series.
Captain Sikandar Raza was rightfully delighted with his players and the result on Tuesday and there will be plenty of belief in the Zimbabwe camp that they can now go on and win the series. However, they will need to be at their best if they are to make it two T20I victories in a row.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20 Match Live Streaming
TV channels: You can watch this match on Sony Sports Ten 5.
Live Streaming: The fixture will be live-streamed on SonyLiv and FanCode.
SL vs ZIM Match Toss Prediction
With the first two games of the series won by the team fielding first, we predict that both captains will want to field first in this game.
SL vs ZIM Pitch Report
It was a much quicker surface on Thursday with batters able to hit through the line and rely on the pace of the wicket. We expect a par score to be around 165 in this clash.
Colombo Weather Report
The forecast is for very humid conditions across Thursday evening at this venue. There will be cloud cover and a small chance of a short thunderstorm interrupting the match.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20 2024
Sri Lanka Team News & Playing 11
SL Team News
Dilshan Madushanka came back into the team in place of Nuwan Thushara for Tuesday’s game and he got the wicket of big-hitting opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe so we expect him to keep his place in the side for this game. No injuries have been reported ahead of Thursday’s match.
SL Key Players
- Angelo Matthews - It has been a brilliant return to T20I cricket for the 36 year old who has scored 112 runs across the two games in this series so far.
- Charith Asalanka - The left-hander impressed and top scored for Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s match with an brilliant 69 runs from 39 balls.
- Wanindu Hasaranga - With more pace in the pitch, the 32 year old was more of a threat in the second T20I and he got the big wickets of Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl.
- Maheesh Theekshana - The spinner has taken his wickets in short periods across the series. After taking two in an over on Sunday he took two in two overs on Tuesday.
SL Team Form
Sri Lanka not only lost the second T20I of this series but have won only one of their last seven games in this format.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing 11
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka
Zimbabwe Team News & Playing 11
ZIM Team News
After getting so close to going 1-0 up in the first T20I, Zimbabwe kept faith with the same XI for the second match and reaped the rewards with the victory. There is clearly a good team spirit and we are not expecting to see any changes for this decider.
ZIM Key Players
- Craig Ervine - The ODI skipper produced a brilliant innings which included six fours and two sixes on Tuesday and Sri Lanka’s bowlers will be wary of bowling to him in this match.
- Tinashe Kamunhukamwe - The 28 year old right-handed opener will look to take the attack to the Sri Lanka bowling attack from the start of the innings.
- Richard Ngarava - The left-arm opening bowler had to wait for the final ball of his four overs before picking up a wicket in the second T20I. However, he is yet to go wicketless on this tour.
- Sikandar Raza - The captain went wicketless on Tuesday but was the most economical of Zimbabwe’s bowling attack. He will come into this game with the ability to win the game with both bat and ball.
ZIM Team Form
Zimbabwe had lost three T20Is in a row before the second game of the series but they have now won two of the last five.
Zimbabwe Predicted Playing 11
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Head to Head
Zimbabwe finally got their first T20I win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday to end the run of four defeats in head to heads in this format.
SL vs ZIM Head to Head Stats in T20s
| |
Matches Played |
SL Won |
ZIM Won |
Tie |
NR |
| Overall |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Last 5 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Betting Odds
Who will win Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20 Match?
It was a brilliant contest on Tuesday and based on performances in the ODIs and in the T20Is it is fair to say that the teams are quite well matched. Sri Lanka were very poor in the final over on Tuesday and we do not expect to see that again in this game so we have them as the top side.
🏆 Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Prediction
Needing 20 runs to win from the final over in Tuesday’s game, it looked like Zimbabwe were about to lose again and see the series disappear from them at the same time. However, some poor bowling combined with sloppy fielding and excellent batting meant that Zimbabwe were able to do it. We predict that this final game of the series will be very competitive and we are backing Sri Lanka to win a close match.
Sri Lanka to beat Zimbabwe in 3rd T20
Jan 18, 2024
19:00 IST / 13:30 GMT
R. Premadasa Stadium - Colombo, Sri Lanka
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