Zimbabwe will go up against Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe 2025 at the Harare Sports Club, Harare, on Friday, 29 August 2025. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM (IST). Both teams will be eager to take an early lead in the series.
Probable Playing XIs
Zimbabwe (ZIM):-
Clive Madande, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Ben Curran, Johnathan Campbell, Sean Williams, Tony Munyonga, Brian Bennett, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Ernest Masuku.
Sri Lanka (SL):-
Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.
Head-to-Head Stats
In their last five ODI meetings, Sri Lanka has won 4, while Zimbabwe has managed 2 victories.
Pitch Report
The Harare Sports Club surface traditionally offers slow and low bounce, making batting slightly challenging early on. Seamers get some help with the new ball, particularly in morning sessions, while spinners find assistance as the game progresses due to dryness and footmarks. Stroke-making improves once batters get set, but run-scoring is rarely easy, with 240–270 often considered a competitive total in ODIs. In T20s, par scores hover around 150–160, where timing the ball rather than brute force becomes key.
Weather Forecast
The forecast for Harare suggests partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers. Humidity will be around 65%, and the temperature is expected to stay near 26°C, offering comfortable playing conditions.
Prediction
With a strong batting lineup and depth in spin bowling, Sri Lanka enters as favorites. However, playing in home conditions, Zimbabwe could spring a surprise if their top order sets a solid foundation.
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