Published on: Sep 2, 2025 5:00 pm IST | Updated on: Sep 2, 2025 2:46 pm IST
Despite putting in a valiant effort with the bat in both games, the hosts, Zimbabwe, couldn’t avoid a whitewash against Sri Lanka in the 2-match ODI series. The two teams will now gear up for a 3-match T20I series kicking off on September 3 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. Sri Lanka was clinical in the ODIs and will look to continue with the same temperament in the T20Is as well. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st ZIM vs SL T20I at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Sri Lanka will once again enter this series with the ‘favorites’ tag etched to their name. Having won the ODI series in a dominant fashion, the Sri Lankan team will head into this series with momentum backing them. For Zimbabwe, the best they could do is take advantage of familiar conditions and bat properly against Sri Lankan spinners, who could wreak havoc on a sluggish wicket of Harare against the hosts. The win probability will lean towards Sri Lanka. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the ZIM vs SL 1st T20I at Harare.
SL: 78% win chance ZIM: 22% win chance
The Zimbabwean skipper will be a key figure with both bat and ball. He will be batting at 4 or 5 and will be bowling crucial overs in the middle. A must have bet.
The Sri Lankan opener is fresh off a ton in a match-winning effort in the second ODI. The right-hander is in fabulous form in T20Is as he has scored 425 runs in the last 10 matches.
The wicket-keeper batter and one of the experienced lads in this setup will be batting in the top 3. Mendis is favorite to score a 50 in this game.
The southpaw, whose shots resemble to the Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya, will be a key figure at the top. Expect him to ho berserk right from the top.
Check out our prediction for the ZIM vs SL 1st T20I at Harare.
After what transpired in the ODIs, Zimbabwe should look for a change of plans in the shortest format of the game. Despite putting up a great fight with the bat, Zimbabwe’s bowling effort wasn’t great across the 2 ODIs, which eventually led to their downfall in the series. The squad and the team management should look to regroup and rectify the mistakes they made in the ODI series ahead of the T20Is.
Heading into the T20Is, the host nation should look to change their approach. Bowling was a weak link in the ODIs, but in T20Is, the bowlers should be at their best. The hosts should look to take advantage of Sri Lanka’s lukewarm form in recent times in T20Is. Having won only 2 out of their last 5 completed T20 fixtures, Sri Lanka is definitely on the back foot, and the hosts should take serious advantage of this fact. Zimbabwe’s young pace attack should fire on all cylinders in the shortest format of the game and at least look to earn one victory in this series.
Right after the conclusion of this T20I series, Sri Lanka will be heading to the UAE to feature in the Asia Cup 2025. One of the prominent teams in Asia, Sri Lanka, hasn’t been at their best in recent times in the shortest format of the game. However, this series gives them a chance to fine-tune and check all their available combinations ahead of the major Asia tournament.
For Sri Lanka, they have a simple task in hand: win this T20I series 3-0 and enter the Asia Cup 2025 with utmost confidence. The squad looks strong on paper compared to the hosts, and having already won the ODI series, their confidence is sky-high already. The visitors just have to do what they have done in the ODIs recently and carry on with the momentum. Zimbabwe isn’t a force to reckon with in T20Is, making the task of a clean sweep even easier for the visitors. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
Matches Played: 6 SL won: 5 ZIM won: 1 No Result: 0 RECENT form ZIMBABWE: NR L L L L RECENT form SRI LANKA: L W W L L
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have locked horns only 6 times in T20I cricket. Sri Lanka has sheerly dominated this battle with 5 wins to 1 in the name of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s only win over Sri Lanka came in 2024 by 4 wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
How will the two teams, i.e., Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, fare in the 1st T20I? Let’s take a look.
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (C), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana
Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Clive Madande (WK), Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st T20I match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at Harare:
With Harare’s surface offering early seam movement and slowing down later, the captain winning the toss is likely to opt to bowl first. Both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will aim to exploit the new ball conditions, control the middle overs, and chase under lights where batting tends to ease up.
Where to Watch Today’s Match
The online live streaming of the 1st T20I match of the Sri Lanka Tour of Zimbabwe will take place live on the FanCode App. There’s no TV streaming available for this series in India.
Sri Lanka will once again start as the favorites not only in this match but in the series as well. They were clinical in the ODIs and will continue their rich vein of form from the ODI series into the T20Is. With momentum by their sides, Sri Lanka should have an upper hand heading into this contest. Therefore, as per our prediction, the visitors, Sri Lanka, are expected to win the 1st ZIM vs SL Dream11 Prediction T20I match.