Final result
Zimbabwe Cricket won by 6 wickets
Player of the match: Sikandar Raza
Result · T20 Internationals
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 189Chase success · 48%POTM · Sikandar Raza
Match preview & overview
Zimbabwe pull off a six-wicket chase in Colombo to beat Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe Cricket beat Sri Lanka Cricket by 6 wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 19 February 2026. Sri Lanka won the toss, chose to bat, and posted 178/7. It was a competitive total but not quite enough. Zimbabwe's chase was controlled from the first over: they reached 55/0 at the end of the powerplay and never looked like losing the match from there. Sikandar Raza was named Player of the Match as Zimbabwe reached 182/4 to complete a comfortable win.
The result narrows Sri Lanka's all-time T20I head-to-head lead over Zimbabwe but does not overturn it. Sri Lanka lead the 50-match series 36 wins to 11. For context, Zimbabwe's last win before this fixture in the recent five-match sequence came at Harare Sports Club in 2025. This Colombo victory represents their first win on Sri Lankan soil in the recent run of form.
Both sides came in with similar 2026 momentum. Sri Lanka had won three consecutive matches against Australia, Oman, and Ireland before back-to-back losses to England. Zimbabwe also beat Australia and Oman in 2026 before this fixture. On paper, Sri Lanka had the stronger recent record; on the night, Zimbabwe were sharper.
Pitch report & venue insights
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — 176-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2005–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
176
T20 matches hosted
189
Avg 1st-innings score
161
Avg 2nd-innings score
48%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
34%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Zimbabwe chased 179 with six wickets to spare
Sri Lanka posted 178/7 after winning the toss and choosing to bat, but Zimbabwe reached 182/4 to win with something in hand. The chase was controlled throughout, with Zimbabwe conceding no wickets during the powerplay and piling on 79 runs in the middle overs.
Angle 02
Raza named Player of the Match
Angle 03
Zimbabwe's middle overs were the difference
Angle 04
Sri Lanka's death overs left the chase gettable
Angle 05
Sri Lanka hold a sizeable head-to-head edge overall
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top-batter markets may favour chasers at R. Premadasa given the ground's historically lower average second-innings score of 161; Zimbabwe's actual total of 182/4 significantly outperformed that benchmark.
- The venue's chase success rate of 48% across 176 matches makes it a coin-flip ground on average; conditions and line-up depth will typically matter more than toss outcome alone.
- Zimbabwe's middle-overs phase in this match (79 runs, 2 wickets in overs 7–15) was unusually productive; player performance markets tied to middle-overs specialists may be worth watching in future fixtures here.
- Sri Lanka's recent form heading into this match included wins over Australia and Oman in 2026, suggesting the outright result markets may have slightly underestimated Zimbabwe's chances of a chase.
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 T20I in Colombo on 19 February 2026?
Zimbabwe Cricket won by 6 wickets. They chased down Sri Lanka's total of 178/7, reaching 182/4 to seal the result. Sikandar Raza was named Player of the Match.
What was the final score in the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe T20I?
Sri Lanka Cricket scored 178/7 batting first after winning the toss. Zimbabwe Cricket replied with 182/4 to win with 6 wickets in hand.
What is the head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in T20Is?
Across 50 T20I meetings, Sri Lanka have won 36 and Zimbabwe 11, with 3 matches ending with no result. Zimbabwe's win in Colombo is only their second in the last five encounters between the sides.
Where to watch Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe T20Is in the UK?
T20I series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are typically available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming options via Sky Go and NOW TV. Coverage schedules can vary depending on tournament rights, so checking the Sky Sports listings ahead of each fixture is advisable.
Who was Player of the Match in the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe T20I on 19 February 2026?
Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe was awarded Player of the Match. His contribution helped Zimbabwe keep control through the chase and secure the 6-wicket victory.
What is R. Premadasa Stadium like for T20 cricket?
R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo has hosted 176 T20 matches. The average first-innings score there is 189, while the average second-innings score is 161, suggesting first-innings totals tend to exceed what chasers achieve. Chase success rate across those matches sits at 48%, making it a broadly neutral chasing venue.
Photo credits (3)
- Wanindu Hasaranga — photo by 04 ATM 04, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Angelo Mathews — photo by paddynapper, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Kumar Sangakkara — photo by Sangakkara.jpg: TonyPatterson derivative work: Chamal N (talk), CC BY 2.0 · source