Zimbabwe (ZIM) will look to draw levels with Sri Lanka (SL) in the second ODI of the ongoing white-ball series on Sunday, August 31 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. This match is a must-win encounter for the hosts if they want to save themselves from the shame of getting whitewashed at home, after losing the series opener by a narrow seven-run margin.
The Sean Williams-led side entered the previous contest without the services of their mainstay skipper Craig Ervine, who has now been ruled out for the remainder of the multi-format tour due to a strain on one of his calfs. They came very close to victory in the previous encounter, but couldn’t get past the finishing line in a last-ball thriller of a contest. They will hope to draw the series 1-1 before moving on to the T20Is.
The Sri Lankans, on the other hand, were excellent in the opening match of the series. They first set a strong total on the board, courtesy of a brilliant half-century by Pathum Nissanka and contributions from the middle-order. However, as things went down to the wire, left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka held his nerves and bagged a hat-trick in the last over to help his side get hold of a cliffhanger.
Match Details
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe, 2025 |
| Date and Time | Sunday, August 31; 1:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Broadcast and live-streaming | FanCode (App and Website) |
Pitch Report
The Harare Sports Club in Harare has been a good surface to bat, but the pitch has a tendency to show an equal amount of assistance for the bowlers as well. The average first innings score at the venue has been 237 and teams batting first have won 91 games, whereas those chasing have won 106. Six matches in Harare have ended without a result. Going by history and records at the venue, it seems that chasing is a good option on the surface.
Head-to-Head record in ODIs
| Matches Played | 65 |
| ZIM Won | 12 |
| SL Won | 50 |
| Tied / No Results | 3 |
| First-ever match | February 23, 1992 |
| Most-recent match | August 29, 2025 |
ZIM vs SL Predicted Playing 11s
Zimbabwe
Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Brendan Taylor (wicketkeeper), Sean Williams (captain), Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Tony Munyonga, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu
Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
ZIM vs SL Probable Best Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Pathum Nissanka
Pro batter Pathum Nissanka rediscovered his lost form with the first match of the series. The ace opener scored a crucial 76-run knock against the Chevrons and set the tempo right for the visiting side to post a dependable total on the board. Courtesy of his half-century, the Lankan Lions posted a strong 299-run target for the opposition, and eventually emerged victorious in a nail-biter. Nissanka will hope to score even better in the second match.
Probable Best Bowler: Richard Ngarava
Richard Ngarava, the left-arm medium pacer from Zimbabwe, has been showing lethal bowling performances for the country over the last few years. In the previous match, he picked up a couple of wickets and gave away only 34 runs. Speaking of the five of his most-recent outings in 50-over internationals, Ngarava has claimed nine wickets, showing a decent amount of consistency. With his ability to generate swing and bounce, he can trouble the Lankan batters on Sunday.
Today’s Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match
Scenario 1
- ZIM win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay: 50-70
- ZIM: 280-300
- ZIM win the match
Scenario 2
- SL win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay: 60-80
- SL: 300-320
- SL win the match
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
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