Angelo Mathews in as Sri Lanka bowl; Sean Williams back for Zimbabwe

Report Angelo Mathews in as Sri Lanka bowl; Sean Williams back for Zimbabwe Zimbabwe have also brought in 20 year old allrounder Brian Bennett, who is playing his fourth international Andrew Fidel Fernando 14 Jan 2024 • 14 mins ago File photo: Sean Williams returned to the Zimbabwe side • ICC/Getty Images Sri Lanka chose to bowl vs Zimbabwe Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Colombo.

For the hosts, Kusal Perera returns to the side, likely at the top of the order. Pathum Nissanka, who missed the ODIs with dengue, is back in, opening the batting. On the bowling front, Nuwan Thushara gets a spot in the XI over Matheesha Pathirana, a faster round arm bowler. With Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka also both in the side Mathews playing his first T20I in almost three years Sri Lanka have plenty of seam bowling cover in the XI.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have batter Sean Williams back in their side, after he had missed the ODIs with injury. They've also brought in 20 year old allrounder Brian Bennett, who is playing his fourth international. The weather appeared fine at the time of the toss. There were no serious signs of rain.

Sri Lanka XI: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga (capt.), 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Thushara Zimbabwe XI: 1 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Sean Williams, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt.), 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Clive Madande (wk), 8 Luke Jongwe, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing Muzarabani Kusal Perera Angelo Mathews Dasun Shanaka Sean Williams Zimbabwe Sri Lanka Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka Andrew Fidel Fernando is a writer at ESPNcricinfo.

@afidelf.