As has been the case for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or other sides around the world, Paarl Royals struggled to show their dominance under pressure in the knockouts. They lost the first qualifier against MI Cape Town before facing the result against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape by eight wickets during the second qualifier of the event.

Paarl Royals came into the auction of the 2025/26 season’s SA20 with R14.5 million with a requirement of bagging 13 players in the squad, including five overseas and two under-23 players in the team. During the auction, they went after several players, including Wiaan Mulder and Rassie van der Dussen, but they were unable to get them in.

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They got on the board with their first signing of Ottneil Baartman, who went to the Pink franchise for R5.10 million after the Sunrisers Eastern Cape decided not to use their RTM on that pacer. Their most expensive buy of the evening was Proteas’ wicket-keeper right-handed batter, Kyle Verreynne, who had a base price of R200k, which PC matched before getting an increased rate to R2.3 million.

SA20 2025/26: Full list of players and captain for Paarl Royals

Late in the evening, the Royals also got the left-arm spinner of the West Indies side, Gudakesh Motie, whose style of bowling will suit the slow and low surfaces of the Boland Park in Paarl. They already had two more spinners, as the pre-signing of Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and Afghanistan’s Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman.

Eshan Malinga will also be part of the side and could look to take responsibility for the death overs’ bowling. David Miller will be their key lower-order batter, while they can open easily with the new sensational star of the shortest format, Lhuan-dre-Pretorious.

Paarl Royals

Retained: Lhuan-dre-Pretorious, David Miller, Bjorn Fortuin

Wild Card: Rubin Hermann

Pre-signing: Sikandar Raza and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman.

Auction: Ottneil Baartman (R5.1 million), Gudakesh Motie (R375,000), Delano Potgieter (R2.6 million), Kyle Verreynne (R2.3 million), Keagan Lion-Cachet (R950,000), Asa Tribe (R200,000), Hardus Viljoen (R200,000), Jacon Johannes Basson (R200,000), Dan Lawrence (R500,000), Eshan Malinga (R1 million), Nqobani Mokoena (R200,000), Vishen Halambage (R200,000), Nqaba Peter (R500,000). 

Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are set to clash in the decisive third T20I of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, September 7. With the series locked at 1-1, both teams will be eager to secure victory and take home the trophy. In the second T20I, Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that worked perfectly as Sri Lanka endured a nightmare with the bat, collapsing for just 80 runs in 17.4 overs.

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Brad Evans and Sikandar Raza were the standout performers with the ball, each claiming three wickets to dismantle Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. Chasing a modest target of 81, Zimbabwe faced some resistance but managed to cross the finish line in 14.2 overs, sealing the contest by five wickets. Sikandar Raza’s brilliant all-round display earned him the Player of the Match award, and he will once again be crucial as Zimbabwe aim for a series victory.

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: Live Streaming Details

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: Probable Playing XI

Zimbabwe:

Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando

On Saturday (September 6), Zimbabwe stunned Sri Lanka in the second T20I by bundling the visitors out for only 80 runs and won the match by five wickets to level the home T20I series before the last game of the three-match T20I series.

Trailing the series by 1-0, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza chose to field first after winning the toss at Harare. While the Chevrons bundled out the Lankans for only 80 runs, the hosts completed the chase in 14.2 overs despite losing five wickets. It was Zimbabwe's second T20I victory against Sri Lanka but first at home, while their first T20I win against the Lankans were recorded in January 2024 at Colombo (RPS), where the visitors won by four wickets with one ball remaining. 

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Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka 2025, 2nd T20I: Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans dominated with the ball

In the Lankan innings in the second T20I, only three batters managed to reach double-digit scores. While the no.3 batter Kamil Mishara scored a run-a-ball 20 runs, skipper Charith Asalanka scored 18 runs after coming to bat at no.5. Dasun Shanaka was the only other double-digit scorer in that innings as the no.7 batter scored 15 runs. 

Among the Zimbabwe bowlers, fast bowler Brad Evans (3/15) and spinner Sikandar Raza (3/11) picked up three wickets each. Also, Blessing Muzarabani got two wickets (2/14) and Sean Williams had one wicket (1/19). 

ZIM vs SL 2025, 2nd T20I: Zimbabwe chased comfortably despite early collapse

In reply, Zimbabwe were losing wickets at regular intervals. After the openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani set up a 20-run partnership for the first wicket, they lost three wickets for just seven runs. While Marumani scored 17 runs, Bennett scored 19 runs to provide early stability after the initial collapse. While the hosts were struggling at 61/5, Ryan Burl (20*) and Tashinga Musekiwa (21*) secured the much-needed win comfortably. 

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Dushmantha Chameera got three wickets (3/19), while Binura Fernando (1/14) and Maheesh Theekshana (1/28) picked up one wicket each, but they haven't enough runs on the board. 

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza reached a career milestone by claiming the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings for the first time, marking a historic achievement. His consistent performances have finally earned him this well-deserved recognition on the international stage.

Sikandar Raza’s stellar performance against Sri Lanka in Harare proved vital in his rise. The seasoned all-rounder excelled with both bat and ball, showcasing his match-winning skills and leading Zimbabwe strongly in the series. His impactful displays not only helped Zimbabwe stay in the contest but also boosted his individual ranking points significantly.

For years, Raza has been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s limited-overs side, anchoring the middle order and delivering breakthroughs with the ball. This landmark moment underlines his immense value and dedication to the team, while also highlighting his reputation as one of the finest all-rounders currently active in world cricket.

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Sikandar Raza Achieves Highest Feat in His Cricketing Career:

At 39, Sikandar Raza proved his class once again with a match-winning performance in the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. He scored 92 runs in the first game and followed it with an unbeaten 59 in the second, also chipping in with a crucial wicket.

These efforts lifted him to the top of the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings, moving past Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi, who sit in second and third place, respectively. Previously, Raza’s highest ranking was second, achieved in December 2023, making this a career-best achievement for the Zimbabwe veteran.

Sikandar Raza reached a career-best all-rounder rating of 302, overtaking Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (296) and Mohammad Nabi (292). His excellent batting also lifted him nine spots in the ODI batting charts to 22nd. Additionally, he climbed one place in the bowling rankings, now occupying the 38th position, underlining his all-round impact for Zimbabwe.

Sikandar Raza Thanks Everyone for His Success:

After securing this milestone, Sikandar Raza expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans, family, friends, and teammates for their constant support. He shared his appreciation through a social media post, acknowledging their role in his journey and celebrating the achievement with those who stood by him.

He wrote, “ Firstly Alhamdulillah. Now the emotions have settled I would like to thank Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 , Zimbabwe Cricket and Zimbabweans for their unwavering love , support and prayers as without it this dream of mine wouldn’t have been possible.”

He further wrote, “ To my team mates past and present of national team and franchise cricket , this wouldn’t have been possible without the lessons you all shared. To my family and fans all across the globe for the prayers and support I have had over the years. Always Alhamdulillah #VisitZimbabwe”

Firstly Alhamdulillah

Now the emotions have settled I would like to thank Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 , Zimbabwe Cricket and Zimbabweans for their unwavering love , support and prayers as without it this dream of mine wouldn’t have been possible

To my team mates past and present of national… pic.twitter.com/liiEaSdqvT

— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) September 4, 2025

The T20I captain and the star all-rounder of the Zimbabwe side, Sikandar Raza, has taken the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings, as he moved to the top of the table with two successive golden performances during the two games against Sri Lanka in Harare. 

Raza raised his bat on both occasions to celebrate the half-centuries and claimed a match figure of 1/48 during the opening ODI, despite their defeats in both clashes. The effort has helped him to move past the Afghanistan pair of Mohammed Nabi (292 points) and Azmatullah Omarzai (296 points) to the rank with 302 points.

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In the batting department, Sri Lanka’s opening batter, Pathum Nissanka, has threatened to breach the top 10 to find themselves at the 13th spot with two classic knocks of 122 and 76 in the two games. Mohammed Nabi, from the top of the all-rounders’ list, has dropped down to the third position.  

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza rises to top spot in ODI all-rounder rankings

The only Indian player in the list of ODI all-rounders is Ravindra Jadeja, who has found his feet at the ninth position with 220 points. The lack of ODIs for India’s schedule, as their last 50-over clash was the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand, could be a reason behind it.

Nabi, however, has pressed himself to the second position in the all-rounder’s list for the T20Is, just behind India’s Hardik Pandya at the top. He claimed four wickets in three games in Sharjah against the UAE and Pakistan in the ongoing tri-series.

The Afghan batter, Ibrahim Zadran, is a noteworthy mover in the T20I batting rankings after his two half-centuries, which have raised him to he 20th position as Sufiyan Muqeem has risen 11 spots to 22 in the bowling ranking of the format.

ICC ODI all-rounder’s rankings as of September 03, 2025:

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory by seven runs against Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a commanding total of 298/6 in 50 overs, thanks to consistent contributions from the middle order. After losing opener Nishan Madushka early, Pathum Nissanka anchored the innings with a composed 76 runs off 92 balls, striking 12 boundaries. His effort set the stage for Sri Lanka to build a strong foundation despite facing disciplined bowling from Zimbabwe.

The middle order played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s innings. Kusal Mendis made 38 before falling to Sean Williams, while Samarawickrama chipped in with 35. Captain Charith Asalanka struggled and departed cheaply, but Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 70 off 47 balls was the highlight of the innings. Displaying powerful stroke play, he accelerated the scoring rate brilliantly in the death overs. Supporting him, Kamindu Mendis smashed 57 off 36 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to a near 300-run total.

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Zimbabwe’s bowling had mixed success. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani picked up crucial wickets, while Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza used their variations to control the middle overs. However, the bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka in the final ten overs as the visitors plundered boundaries. Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis ensured the scoring momentum never dropped, with the last-wicket stand adding valuable runs that ultimately made the difference. Zimbabwe was left with a stiff chase of 299 to win.

Dilshan Madushanka hat trick guides Sri Lanka to victory

Chasing the target, Zimbabwe suffered a disastrous start, losing Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor without troubling the scoreboard, both dismissed by Asitha Fernando. Ben Curran played a fighting knock of 70 but couldn’t convert it into a match-winning effort. The backbone of the chase was skipper Sean Williams’ 57 and star all-rounder Sikandar Raza’s explosive 92 off 87 balls, which kept Zimbabwe in the hunt. However, crucial wickets at regular intervals meant the required rate kept climbing.

The game went down to the wire as Zimbabwe needed 10 runs in the final over. Raza’s dismissal in the penultimate over by Dilshan Madushanka turned the match in Sri Lanka’s favor. Despite Tony Munyonga’s unbeaten 43, Zimbabwe fell short at 291/8 in 50 overs, handing Sri Lanka a narrow win. Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka starred with three wickets each, while Kamindu Mendis provided vital breakthroughs. The win gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and set the tone for an exciting finale.

Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will square off in the first ODI of the two-match series at Harare Sports Club on Friday, August 29. The hosts enter the contest after a disappointing run, having lost the Test series 2-0 against New Zealand and failing to deliver in their home T20I tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa. Zimbabwe will be eager to bounce back and make the most of their home conditions in this fresh challenge.

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Sri Lanka, on the other hand, arrive after hosting Bangladesh in a multi-format tour, where they clinched both the Test and ODI series but fell short in the T20Is. The visitors will aim to carry forward their recent ODI success, though they face a setback with Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the first ODI. How the side adapts to his absence will be a key factor in determining their performance in the opening clash.

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Live Streaming Details

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Probable Playing XI

Zimbabwe (ZIM):

Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine (c), Clive Madande (wk), Sikandar Raza, Johnathan Campbell, Sean Williams, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu

Sri Lanka (SL):

Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera

New Zealand won all their matches and currently lead the points table with six points and also qualified for the final match. They won their last match by seven wickets against South Africa, successfully chasing down the target of 135 runs in the 16th overs.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe have lost all their matches and been eliminated from this series. They lost their last match by seven wickets against South Africa. In their last head-to-head match, New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets.

ZIM vs NZ Match Details

Date: July 24th, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM IST

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

ZIM vs NZ Weather Report

Clear weather 

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Top Batters ZIM vs NZ

• Brian Bennett (ZIM) - 112 runs in this series 

• Tim Seifert (NZ) - 91 runs in this series 

• Devon Conway (Z) - 87 runs this series 

Top Bowler ZIM vs NZ

• Matt Henry (NZ) - 6 wickets in this series 

• Jacob Duffy (NZ) - 5 wickets in this series 

• Richard Ngarava (NZ) - 4 wickets in this series 

ZIM vs NZ Recent Performance

ZIM vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If NZ bats first

• First Innings score prediction- NZ is expected to score 165-175 runs

• Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 30-45 Runs 

Scenario 2- If ZIM bats first

• First Innings score prediction- ZIM is expected to score 130-140 runs.

• Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 7 wickets 

NZ vs SA Predicted Playing XI

Zimbabwe (ZIM) Playing XI 

Wessly Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Clive Madande (wk), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Tinotenda Maposa, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Trevor Gwandu

New Zealand (NZ) Playing XI

Mitchell Santner (c), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy

ZIM vs NZ Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

New Zealand To win

We predict that New Zealand will be winning this T20I match. The likes of Matt Henry, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra will be key players to watch out for.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced the 16-member men's squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against New Zealand. The Chevrons have big names return to the Test squad, while Brendan Taylor's international cricket return has an interesting story. 

After the end of the ongoing T20I tri-series between Zimbabwe, South Africa, and New Zealand, where New Zealand and South Africa will face each other in the Final on this Saturday (July 26) after the last two league stage games, Zimbabwe and New Zealand will play a two-match Test series. Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo will host both the Tests, starting on July 30 and August 7. Both Tests will be the traditional five-day Test matches. It will be their first Test meeting since 2016, when the visitors won the two-match Test series in Zimbabwe by 2-0. As Zimbabwe aren't part of the ICC World Test Championship, the forthcoming Test series will not be a part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. 

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Ben Curran and Sikandar Raza return to Test cricket

Craig Ervine will continue his Test leadership role, while Ben Curran and Sikandar Raza have returned to the Test squad. Ben Curran missed out on the recently concluded home Test series against South Africa due to a fractured hand, which he suffered during a warm-up game against South Africa. Meanwhile, Sikandar Raza has returned to the Test squad after missing the home Test series against South Africa due to MLC 2025 commitment. Also, Roy Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni have returned to Test cricket, having played three and two Test matches, respectively. 

In the meantime, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Prince Masvaure, Wessly Madhevere, and Kundai Matigimu, who were present during the recently concluded home Test series against South Africa, have been left out of the squad for the upcoming home Test series. 

Zimbabwe complete squad for the two-match home Test series against New Zealand

Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams

Brendan Taylor likely to return to international cricket

On the other hand, the 39-year-old Bendan Taylor hasn't been named in the Test squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. His three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC anti-corruption code will end this Friday, July 25. According to ESPNcricinfo's report, Taylor is likely to make his international cricket comeback in the upcoming first Test against New Zealand, as he is likely to be added once his ban expires officially. 

Zimbabwe lost their last match by 8 wickets against New Zealand and currently occupy the bottom position in the points table.

On the other hand, South Africa got off to a winning start in the Zimbabwe Tri-Series with a victory over the hosts last Monday but they were then stopped in their tracks by New Zealand on Wednesday who saw them off by a margin of 21 runs. 

ZIM vs SA Match Details

Date: July 20th, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM IST

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

ZIM vs SA Weather Report

Clear weather 

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Top Batters ZIM vs SA

• Dewald Brevis (SA) - 76 runs in this series 

• Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 66 runs in this series 

• Brian Bennett (ZIM) - 51 runs this series 

Top Bowler ZIM vs SA

• George Linde (SA) - 3 wickets in this series 

• Richard Ngarava (ZIM) - 3 wickets in this series 

• Lungi Ngidi (SA) - 2 wickets in this series 

ZIM vs SA Recent Performance

ZIM vs SA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If SA bats first

• First Innings score prediction- SA is expected to score 155-165 runs

• Result prediction- SA will win the match by 20-25 Runs 

Scenario 2- If ZIM bats first

• First Innings score prediction- ZIM is expected to score 135-140 runs.

• Result prediction- SA will win the match by 6 wickets 

ZIM vs SA Predicted Playing XI

South Africa (SA) Playing XI 

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Senuran Muthusamy, Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy

Zimbabwe (ZIM) Playing XI

Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande (WK), Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu

ZIM vs SA Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

South Africa To win

We predict that South Africa will be winning this T20I match. The likes of Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis will be key players to watch out for.