Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I: Colombo R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, Stats & Records

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I: Sri Lanka will begin their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024 with a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting with the opener at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (January 14).

After a 2-0 win in the ODI series, Sri Lanka led by Wanindu Hasaranga will look to repeat the feat or even do better when they face Sikandar Raza-led Zimbabwe T20 side.

R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Pitch Report, Weather Forecast & T20 Record ahead of SL vs ZIM 1st T20I

Both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will be keen to bounce back from recent T20 series defeats as the latter will look to put behind the failure to qualify for the T20 World Cup in June, while the hosts will look to get some wins under their belt ahead of the show-piece.

The two sides have only met three times in the shortest format with all the meetings coming in the T20 World Cup. Now, they are set to clash for the first time at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the hosts have won just 6 of 28 T20 matches.

The venue has overall staged 44 T20Is with majority of the neutral fixtures coming during the 2012 T20 World Cup. Here is a look the pitch report, weather forecast, T20I stats and record of the venue so far:

R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report

In the ODI series, there was mixture of wickets as batters got some runs in the first two fixtures in which the pacers dominated the wickets column, but in the final ODI, Hasaranga announced his return with a 7-wicket haul to bundle Zimbabwe for just 96 in a truncated match.

In general, the pitches in Colombo have been batting friendly early doors, and then assist spinners as the game progressed. In T20, the wicket may remain same throughout assisting the quicks.

The team chasing has had a 24-19 edge over the teams batting first at this venue, where the average score batting first is 152. In the last five matches, the team chasing has won four with the average first innings score being just 127 as only one innings saw a team cross 150.

Colombo Weather Forecast on January 14

Unlike the last few days that saw rain, it is expected to be a mostly sunny day with the maximum temperature at 29°C during the start of play at 7 PM, but the temperature is expected to reduce to 27°C at the scheduled close of play.

Rain Prediction for Colombo on January 14: For the first time in the week, there is zero percent chance of precipitation. So, the SL vs ZIM 1st T20I is likely to take place without any interruption due to rain.

Colombo R Premadasa Stadium T20I Stats and Records

Matches: 44
Home Side (Sri Lanka) Won: 6
Visiting Team Won: 22
Neutral Team Won: 15
No Result: 1
Batting First Won: 19
Chasing Won: 24
Highest Total: 215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in 2018
Highest Successful Chase: 215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in 2018
Average First Innings Score: 152
Lowest Total: 80 All Out by England vs India in 2012 & by Afghanistan vs England in 2012
Lowest Total Defended: 115/6 by South Africa vs Sri Lanka in 2013
Highest Score: Luke Wright (England) – 99 not out vs Afghanistan in 2012
Best Bowling Innings: Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) - 4 for 9 vs India in 2021
Most Runs: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) - 425 runs in 14 innings
Most Wickets: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - 17 wickets in 14 matches
Total Sixes: 366 sixes
Most Sixes: Shane Watson (Australia) - 15 sixes
Total Fours: 1016 fours
Most Fours: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) - 47 fours
Total Fifties: 55 Fifties
Most 50s: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) - 4 fifties
Highest Partnership: 134* by David Warner & Aaron Finch (Australia) vs Sri Lanka in 2022