Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I: Colombo R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, Stats & Records

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I: Series evenly poised, the hosts and visitors are set for the decided when they meet in the third and final game of the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday (January 18).

Sri Lanka led by Wanindu Hasaranga had survived a scare in the series opener with a 3-wicket win on Sunday (January 14), but Sikandar Raza-led Zimbabwe levelled the series with a 4-wicket win at the same venue in Colombo on Tuesday (January 16).

R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Pitch Report, Weather Forecast & T20 Record ahead of SL vs ZIM 3rd T20I

Angelo Mathews once again starred with the bat as he scored a fifty to share a 118-run stand with Charith Asalanka, but the veteran all-rounder conceded 24 runs off 5 balls in the crucial final over as Zimbabwe completed the run chase with one ball to spare.

Now, the two sides are set to clash again at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the hosts have won just 7 of 30 T20 matches, while Zimbabwe has lost one and won one of their 2 T20 encounters at the venue.

The venue in Colombo has overall staged 46 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 first T20I, the spinners dominated the game, but in the second T20I batters found run-scoring a little easy. In general, however, the pitches in Colombo have been batting friendly early doors, and then assist spinners as the game progresses.

The team chasing has had a 26-19 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 all the five times with the average first innings score being just 137.

Colombo Weather Forecast on January 18

Unlike the last two matches which took place without any interruption, thunderstorm is expected to return the night with the temperature expected to be 27°C during the playing hours from 7 PM to 11 PM Local Time.

Rain Prediction for Colombo on January 18: There is 52 percent chance of precipitation on January 18 in Colombo with thunderstorm expected at 8 PM Local Time. So, the SL vs ZIM 3rd T20I is likely to be interrupted due to rain.

Colombo R Premadasa Stadium T20I Stats and Records

Matches: 46
Home Side (Sri Lanka) Won: 7
Visiting Team Won: 23
Neutral Team Won: 15
No Result: 1
Batting First Won: 19
Chasing Won: 26
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) - 442 runs in 16 innings
Most Wickets: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - 17 wickets in 14 matches
Total Sixes: 383 sixes
Most Sixes: Shane Watson (Australia) - 15 sixes
Total Fours: 1075 fours
Most Fours: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) - 50 fours
Total Fifties: 59 Fifties
Most 50s: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) - 4 fifties
Highest Partnership: 134* by David Warner & Aaron Finch (Australia) vs Sri Lanka in 2022