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The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team stats show a long-running rivalry across Test cricket, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals. Sri Lanka have historically held the advantage in Tests and ODIs, while Zimbabwe have also produced important wins in T20I cricket, including their victory over Sri Lanka at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The two nations first met in international cricket during the 1992 World Cup. Since then, they have played across multiple formats and tournaments. According to the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have played 20 Tests, 66 ODIs and, based on the latest available records, 12 T20Is.
In Tests, Sri Lanka have won 14 of the 20 matches, with Zimbabwe yet to record a Test victory over Sri Lanka. Six Tests have ended in draws. In ODIs, Sri Lanka lead 51-12, with three matches ending without a result. T20Is have been considerably closer, with Sri Lanka leading 8-4 after 12 matches.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Head-to-Head Stats
Sri Lanka have the stronger overall head-to-head record against Zimbabwe across the three major men’s international formats.
The biggest difference comes in Test cricket, where Sri Lanka have won 14 of 20 matches and Zimbabwe have not yet registered a Test victory. ODI cricket also shows a substantial advantage for Sri Lanka, who have won 51 of 66 meetings.
T20I cricket has produced a more competitive record. Sri Lanka have won eight of the 12 matches, while Zimbabwe have won four.
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | Draws | No Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| ODIs | 66 | 51 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| T20Is | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 98 | 73 | 16 | 6 | 3 |
The figures demonstrate how the balance has differed by format. Sri Lanka’s dominance is particularly clear in Tests and ODIs, while Zimbabwe have won one-third of the recorded T20I meetings.
Test Head-to-Head Stats
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have played 20 Test matches, with the first series taking place in 1994-95. Sri Lanka have won 14 Tests, while six have ended in draws.
Zimbabwe have not defeated Sri Lanka in a Test match. Their highest Test total against Sri Lanka is 462/9 declared, while Sri Lanka’s highest total is 713/3 declared.
| Test Statistic | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 20 | 20 |
| Wins | 14 | 0 |
| Losses | 0 | 14 |
| Draws | 6 | 6 |
| Highest total | 713/3 dec | 462/9 dec |
| Lowest all-out total | 218 | 79 |
| Highest individual score | 270 – Kumar Sangakkara | 266 – Dave Houghton |
| Best bowling innings | 9/51 – Muttiah Muralitharan | 7/113 – Sikandar Raza |
| Best bowling match | 13/115 – Muttiah Muralitharan | 9/275 – Graeme Cremer |
Kumar Sangakkara’s 270 remains the highest individual Test score for Sri Lanka in this matchup. Dave Houghton’s 266 is Zimbabwe’s highest individual score against Sri Lanka.
ODI Head-to-Head Stats
The ODI rivalry has been much more extensive, with 66 matches recorded between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from February 1992 through August 2025.
Sri Lanka have won 51 matches, compared with 12 victories for Zimbabwe. Three matches ended without a result. The latest ODI meeting in the available record was on August 31, 2025, when Sri Lanka won by five wickets in Harare.
| ODI Statistic | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 66 | 66 |
| Wins | 51 | 12 |
| Losses | 12 | 51 |
| No Results | 3 | 3 |
| Highest team total | 327/6 | Not listed in the ACS record |
| Lowest all-out total | 152 | Not listed in the ACS record |
| Highest individual score | 144 – Tillakaratne Dilshan | — |
| Best bowling innings | 8/19 – Chaminda Vaas | — |
| Most runs in matchup | 906 – Marvan Atapattu | — |
| Most wickets in matchup | 59 – Muttiah Muralitharan | — |
Sri Lanka’s highest ODI total against Zimbabwe is 327/6, recorded at Pallekele in the 2010-11 season. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 144 is the highest Sri Lankan individual score listed in the matchup record.
T20I Head-to-Head Stats
The T20I rivalry has produced 12 matches. Sri Lanka have won eight, while Zimbabwe have won four.
The most recent listed meeting took place at the 2026 T20 World Cup in Colombo on February 19, 2026. Zimbabwe scored 182/4 after Sri Lanka made 178/7, giving Zimbabwe a six-wicket victory.
| T20I Statistic | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 12 | 12 |
| Wins | 8 | 4 |
| Losses | 4 | 8 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
| No Results | 0 | 0 |
| Most recent result | Lost by 6 wickets | Won by 6 wickets |
| Latest match venue | Colombo | Colombo |
The T20I record has become more competitive in recent meetings. Zimbabwe won twice during the 2025 T20I fixtures before Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe met again at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Recent Matches
The recent history provides a useful contrast to the overall head-to-head record. Sri Lanka won the first T20I of their September 2025 series by four wickets, with Kamindu Mendis scoring an unbeaten 41 from 16 balls. Zimbabwe had earlier posted 175/7, with Brian Bennett scoring 81.
Sri Lanka then won the third T20I of that series by eight wickets after Zimbabwe had won the second match by five wickets. Zimbabwe also defeated Sri Lanka in the second T20I of their November 2025 series by 67 runs, before Sri Lanka won the next meeting by nine wickets.
| Date | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2025 | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 7 runs |
| Aug 31, 2025 | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| Sep 3, 2025 | T20I | Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets |
| Sep 6, 2025 | T20I | Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets |
| Sep 7, 2025 | T20I | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| Nov 20, 2025 | T20I | Zimbabwe won by 67 runs |
| Nov 25, 2025 | T20I | Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets |
| Feb 19, 2026 | T20I | Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets |
Sri Lanka also won the first ODI of the August 2025 series by seven runs. Dilshan Madushanka took a hat-trick in the final over and finished with 4/62 as Zimbabwe fell short while chasing 299.
Highest Team Scores
Sri Lanka’s highest Test total against Zimbabwe is 713/3 declared, while Zimbabwe’s highest Test score is 462/9 declared.
In ODIs, Sri Lanka’s highest recorded total against Zimbabwe is 327/6. The Test figures demonstrate the larger scoring opportunities available in the longest format, while the ODI record reflects Sri Lanka’s strong batting performances in the rivalry.
| Format | Team | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | Sri Lanka | 713/3 dec |
| Tests | Zimbabwe | 462/9 dec |
| ODIs | Sri Lanka | 327/6 |
| T20Is | Sri Lanka | 193/2 |
| T20Is | Zimbabwe | 182/4 |
Zimbabwe’s 182/4 against Sri Lanka at the 2026 T20 World Cup was enough to chase down 179 and win by six wickets.
Best Batting Performances
Several major batting performances have shaped the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe rivalry.
In Test cricket, Kumar Sangakkara’s 270 is Sri Lanka’s highest individual score against Zimbabwe. Marvan Atapattu has the highest aggregate for Sri Lanka in Test meetings, with 1,145 runs from 15 innings and an average of 95.41. For Zimbabwe, Dave Houghton scored 266, while Andy Flower accumulated 778 Test runs against Sri Lanka.
In ODIs, Marvan Atapattu also leads Sri Lanka’s run charts against Zimbabwe with 906 runs from 25 innings. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 144 is the highest Sri Lankan ODI score in the matchup.
| Format | Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 270 |
| Test | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 1,145 career runs |
| Test | Dave Houghton | Zimbabwe | 266 |
| Test | Andy Flower | Zimbabwe | 778 career runs |
| ODI | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 144 |
| ODI | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 906 career runs |
| T20I | Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | 81 |
| T20I | Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 55 |
Brian Bennett’s 81 in September 2025 was one of Zimbabwe’s recent standout T20I innings against Sri Lanka. Pathum Nissanka responded with 55 in the same match.
Best Bowling Performances
Sri Lankan bowlers have produced several outstanding figures in this matchup.
Muttiah Muralitharan leads Sri Lanka’s Test and ODI bowling records against Zimbabwe. He took 87 Test wickets against Zimbabwe and has the best Test innings figures of 9/51. His 13/115 is also the best match bowling performance in the Test rivalry.
In ODIs, Muralitharan took 59 wickets against Zimbabwe. However, the best individual ODI innings figures belong to Chaminda Vaas, who recorded 8/19.
| Format | Bowler | Team | Best Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 9/51 |
| Tests | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 13/115 match |
| Tests | Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 7/113 |
| ODIs | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 8/19 |
| ODIs | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 59 wickets |
| ODIs | Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 4/62 in 2025 ODI |
Madushanka’s 4/62 in the first ODI of the August 2025 series included a dramatic last-over hat-trick, helping Sri Lanka defend 298/6.
Key Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Stats
The overall numbers highlight Sri Lanka’s historical advantage, particularly in Tests and ODIs. Zimbabwe’s T20I victories, however, show that the shorter format has produced a different competitive pattern.
| Key Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Tests | 20 |
| Sri Lanka Test wins | 14 |
| Zimbabwe Test wins | 0 |
| Test draws | 6 |
| Total ODIs | 66 |
| Sri Lanka ODI wins | 51 |
| Zimbabwe ODI wins | 12 |
| ODI no-results | 3 |
| Total T20Is | 12 |
| Sri Lanka T20I wins | 8 |
| Zimbabwe T20I wins | 4 |
| Sri Lanka’s highest Test total | 713/3 dec |
| Zimbabwe’s highest Test total | 462/9 dec |
| Sri Lanka’s highest ODI total | 327/6 |
| Sri Lanka’s best Test bowling | 9/51 |
| Sri Lanka’s best ODI bowling | 8/19 |
| Highest Test score in matchup | 270 – Kumar Sangakkara |
| Highest Zimbabwe Test score | 266 – Dave Houghton |
Overall, the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team stats show three distinct patterns. Sri Lanka have dominated the Test record, they hold a substantial advantage in ODIs, and the T20I record is comparatively closer.
The historical numbers also feature some of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished players. Marvan Atapattu has been particularly productive against Zimbabwe with 1,145 Test runs and 906 ODI runs, while Muttiah Muralitharan has taken 87 Test wickets and 59 ODI wickets against them.
Recent matches have shown that Zimbabwe remain capable of producing significant results in limited-overs cricket. Their six-wicket victory at the 2026 T20 World Cup was their latest T20I win over Sri Lanka and came after Zimbabwe successfully chased Sri Lanka’s 178/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times have Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe played each other in international cricket?
In the available records, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have played 20 Tests, 66 ODIs and 12 T20Is, giving 98 matches across the three formats.
2. What is the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Test head-to-head record?
Sri Lanka have won 14 of their 20 Tests against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe have not yet won a Test against Sri Lanka, while six matches have ended in draws.
3. What is the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODI head-to-head record?
Sri Lanka have won 51 of the 66 recorded ODIs against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe have won 12, while three matches have ended without a result.
4. Who has scored the most Test runs in Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe matches?
Marvan Atapattu has scored the most Test runs for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe, with 1,145 runs from 15 innings. His average in those innings was 95.41.
5. Who has taken the most wickets in Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe matches?
Muttiah Muralitharan leads the Test head-to-head wicket charts with 87 wickets. He also holds Sri Lanka’s ODI record against Zimbabwe with 59 wickets.