Zimbabwe, sent in to bat, posted 175 for seven thanks to opener Brian Bennett's sparkling 81. But the home side couldn't contain Sri Lanka's late assault.
The 25 year old from Galle is the joint third fastest to reach five Test centuries, joining legends like Don Bradman and George Headley, who also scored five hundreds in 13 innings.
Kamindu's cameo was the turning point of match: SL skipper Shanaka
All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will lead a strong Sri Lankan side for the T20 World Cup, featuring key players including Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka.
Sri Lanka kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a clinical 20-run win over Ireland, powered by a resilient half-century from Kusal Mendis and a blistering cameo from Kamindu Mendis, while their spinners dismantled the Irish batting line-up."
Sri Lanka will need to address batting inconsistencies and adjust their bowling strategy in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga as they prepare to face Oman in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B match.
Nissanka's cameo guides Sri Lanka to 4 wicket win over Zimbabwe in 1st T20I
The International Cricket Council has confirmed pacer Pramod Madushan as the replacement for Sri Lanka quick Eshan Malinga, who was ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil after dislocating his shoulder against England last week.
Sri Lanka didn't have the best of preparations for the T20 showpiece as they were whitewashed 0-3 by England in a home T20 series. Ireland will be led by veteran Paul Stirling and feature key players like Harry Tector and Josh Little.
Jofra Archer and Will Jacks tore through Sri Lanka's batting line-up after Phil Salt's 40-ball 62 to power England to a thumping 51-run win in an eventful Super 8s match of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka must improve their batting against slower bowlers when they face New Zealand in a crucial T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Colombo, with both teams chasing their first win.
Kamindu Mendis soared - quite literally - to deliver a moment that could well define Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL 2025 campaign.
England spinners seal Sri Lanka series sweep ahead of T20 World Cup
Kamindu Mendis maintained his red-hot form and struck a majestic 114 to power Sri Lanka to 302/7 on the opening day of the first Test.
Mitchell Santner's all-round showing helped New Zealand recover from a poor start to crush Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup Super 8s,
Sri Lanka posted a massive total against minnows Oman in their Group B T20 World Cup clash in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Thursday.
Pakistan's chances of reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals depend on a dominant win against Sri Lanka and a significant victory for England against New Zealand. The team's batting woes and reliance on individual performances pose a challenge.
England and Sri Lanka prepare for a crucial Super Eight match in the T20 World Cup, with spin bowling expected to play a key role. England aims to replicate their recent series win in Sri Lanka, while the hosts seek to capitalize on home advantage.
New Zealand reached the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals after Pakistan crashed out despite a victory against Sri Lanka in a Group Two Super Eights match in Pallekele on Saturday.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2026 after Game 48.
Injury-hit Australia are considering including veteran Steve Smith to strengthen their batting line-up for the crucial T20 World Cup Group B match against Sri Lanka. Australia needs to win to secure a spot in the Super Eights after a defeat to Zimbabwe.
Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori says that working around their batting line-up and getting the match-ups right with Kamindu Mendis in the mix served the team well against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League match in Chennai on Friday.
NZ thrash SL by 61 runs to take one step closer to semis; Ravindra shines with 4/27
Kamindu Mendis bowled both left-arm spin and right-arm off-spin in the same over, delighting the crowd with his versatility.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka but failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals due to a lower net run rate than New Zealand, who advanced from Group 2 alongside England.
The islanders, led by Charith Asalanka, have quietly built a formidable unit combining top-order solidity with middle-order power and a spin attack tailor-made for UAE conditions.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan survived a wonderful spell from an enraged spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in an intense Super 4 match to stay alive in the Asia Cup, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Along with Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana among spin bowling options.
Opener Pathum Nissanka struck 68 as Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong by four wickets in their Asia Cup match in Dubai on Monday.
After being put into bat, Sri Lanka started brightly as the openers put up a 51-run stand before Pathum Nissanka was run out attempting a risky third run.
'I am really pleased with the performance. Almost a perfect game for us. The pacers did the job (but) only the last over went wrong for us.'
This is Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Australia in ODIs in terms of runs.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Chennai Super Kings and SunRisers Hyderabad in Chennai, on Friday.
Afghanistan will need to play with more flair and freedom in their must-win Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Suranga Wellalage, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage's father, died on September 18, the same day his son played the Asia Cup Group fixture against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.
Sri Lanka will look to build on their perfect start in Asia Cup when they take on a struggling Hong Kong in Dubai on Monday.
Sri Lanka ended on the wrong side of history, slumping to their second-lowest T20I total and lowest all-out total by a Test-playing nation against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday.
India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.
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