Opener Kusal Mendis shone with a quick-fire 29-ball knock of 54 inclusive of six boundaries and three sixes in Sri Lanka’s first T20 World Cup warm-up match against Zimbabwe, played at Melbourne on Tuesday.

Invited to take first lease of the wicket Sri Lanka was given a sound start by openers Mendis and Pathum Nisanka, who together put on 57 runs in only 31 balls.

Nissanka was the first batsman to be dismissed after scoring 21 off 15 balls with four boundaries.

Mendis featured in another useful stand of 35 runs for the second wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva before losing his wicket.

Sri Lanka then lost three quick wickets for the addition of 32 runs before an unbroken partnership of 55 runs between Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka enabled Sri Lanka to end with a challenging score of 188.

Zimbabwe in their run chase were given a sedate start by openers Craig Ervine and Regis Chakabva who added 39 runs.

But at the halfway stage of the innings they were struggling on 81 for 4 before a useful partnership of 51 runs between Wesley Madhevere and Milton Shumba saw them recover.

It came too late however they were able to muster a score of only 155 runs.

Sri Lanka will play their second warm up match against Ireland tomorrow at the same venue.

Result:
At Melbourne – Sri Lanka won by 33 runs
Sri Lanka 188 for 5 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 54, Pathum Nissanka 21, Dhananjaya de Silva 17, Danushka Gunatileke 17, Bhanuka Rajapakse 17, Wanindu Hasaranga 37 n.o., Dasun Shanaka 16 n.o.)
Zimbabwe 155 for 5 in 20 overs (Wesley Madhevere 42rtd, Milton Shumba 32, Craig Ervine 24, Regis Chakabva 20: Chamika KArunaratne 2 for 26, Maheesh Theekshana 2 for 39)-MSA