Final result
Sri Lanka won by 7 runs
Player of the match: D Madushanka
Result · One-Day Internationals
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Cricket
Result · One-Day Internationals
Venue par · 221Chase success · 50%POTM · D Madushanka
Match preview & overview
Sri Lanka survive a Zimbabwe scare to win by 7 runs in Harare
Sri Lanka Cricket beat Zimbabwe Cricket by 7 runs at Harare Sports Club on 29 August 2025. Sri Lanka posted 298/6 from their 50 overs, a score well above the venue's average first-innings total of 221 across 190 matches. Zimbabwe came closer than that margin suggests. They reached 291/8, powered by 182 runs in the middle overs, but a costly death-over collapse of 3 wickets for 73 runs ended their chase. D Madushanka was named Player of the Match for his role in turning the final phase Sri Lanka's way.
The result continues a competitive streak between the sides. Zimbabwe had won two of their most recent home encounters with Sri Lanka in 2025, and this match felt precarious for long stretches. Sri Lanka's head-to-head record stands at 36 wins from 50 meetings, but the 7-run margin is a reminder that the gap between these teams in 50-over cricket has narrowed considerably.
Pitch report & venue insights
Harare Sports Club — 190-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2002–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
190
T20 matches hosted
221
Avg 1st-innings score
188
Avg 2nd-innings score
50%
Chase success rate
38
Avg powerplay runs
73%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Sri Lanka post above-par 298/6 in high-scoring ODI
Sri Lanka's 298/6 was well above the Harare Sports Club's average first-innings score of 221 across 190 matches. The death overs were particularly productive: 113 runs fell from the final phase for just one wicket, a decisive contribution on a pitch that typically yields only 36 death-over runs on average.
Angle 02
Zimbabwe's middle overs nearly turned the match
Angle 03
Toss had minimal impact despite the usual field-first trend
Angle 04
D Madushanka named Player of the Match
Angle 05
Head-to-head still heavily in Sri Lanka's favour
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- With both teams outscoring the venue's average first and second-innings totals, top-batter and top-scorer markets may offer more interest than the outright result line, given how competitive these encounters have become.
- Zimbabwe's recent record of three wins in their last five meetings with Sri Lanka means the historical head-to-head advantage is less informative than it might appear, which could be reflected in how markets price the rivalry.
- Death-over bowling performance drove the result here: Sri Lanka took 3 wickets in Zimbabwe's final phase. Markets tied to bowling performance across specific phases may be worth tracking in future fixtures at this venue.
- The Harare Sports Club's chase success rate stands at 49% across 190 matches, making it close to a coin flip on conditions alone. Result markets in high-scoring matches here tend to be tightly priced for that reason.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Cricket
Who won the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODI on 29 August 2025?
Sri Lanka Cricket won the match by 7 runs at Harare Sports Club. Sri Lanka posted 298/6 in their 50 overs and Zimbabwe fell short on 291/8 despite a strong middle-overs chase.
Who was Player of the Match in the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODI?
D Madushanka was named Player of the Match. His contribution in restricting Zimbabwe during the death overs was decisive in a match settled by only 7 runs.
What is the head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in ODIs?
Sri Lanka lead the head-to-head 36–11 across 50 ODI meetings, with 3 no results. However, Zimbabwe have won 3 of the last 5 encounters, including two matches in Harare in 2025.
Where to watch Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODIs in the UK?
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODI matches are typically available in the UK via Sky Sports Cricket and the Sky Go streaming platform. A NOW TV Sports Membership also provides access without a full Sky subscription.
What is the average score at Harare Sports Club in ODIs?
Across 190 ODI matches at Harare Sports Club, the average first-innings score is 221 and the average second-innings score is 188. Both teams exceeded those averages significantly in this fixture.
What did Zimbabwe score chasing 299 against Sri Lanka in Harare?
Zimbabwe scored 291/8 in their 50-over chase, falling 7 runs short. Their middle-overs phase was particularly strong at 182/3, but three wickets in the death overs ended their hopes of overhauling the target.
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Photo credits (1)
- Angelo Mathews — photo by paddynapper, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source