Date: January 8, 2024
Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Series: Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka, 2023/24
In an exciting match at R Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the three-match series. Sri Lanka chased down the target of 209/8 with just six balls to spare, showcasing resilience and determination, especially from Janith Liyanage, Maheesh Theekshana, and the lower-order batters.
Zimbabwe’s Innings
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. The early loss of Tinashe Kamunhukamwe set the tone for the innings. Captain Craig Ervine steadied the ship with a well-crafted 82, but wickets at regular intervals, including a brilliant 4-wicket haul by Maheesh Theekshana, restricted Zimbabwe to 208 all out in 44.4 overs. Richard Ngarava’s five-wicket haul was a standout performance for Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by Theekshana’s spin wizardry (4/31), was instrumental in restricting Zimbabwe to a modest total. Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay also contributed with crucial wickets, setting the stage for an intriguing run chase.
Sri Lanka’s Innings
The Sri Lankan top order faced early setbacks, losing Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Kusal Mendis cheaply. However, Janith Liyanage played a sensational knock, anchoring the innings with a well-compiled 95 runs. Despite the lower-order collapse, Chameera and Vandersay’s resilient ninth-wicket partnership saw Sri Lanka cross the finish line, winning by 2 wickets with 6 balls left.
Zimbabwe’s Bowling
Zimbabwe’s bowlers worked hard in the match, with Richard Ngarava standing out by taking five crucial wickets, giving away only 32 runs in his 10 overs. Blessing Muzarabani also contributed with one wicket, keeping things tight by conceding 41 runs in 10 overs. Faraz Akram bowled well, not taking a wicket but only allowing 43 runs in his 10 overs. Sikandar Raza grabbed two crucial wickets, conceding 32 runs in his 10 overs. Tapiwa Mufudza kept the pressure on, bowling 7 overs and conceding 38 runs without taking any wickets. Ryan Burl bowled 2 overs but couldn’t secure any wickets, giving away 23 runs. Despite their efforts, Sri Lanka managed to secure a narrow victory.
Top Performers
Janith Liyanage: He was the best player in the match, making a big contribution to Sri Lanka’s win.
Maheesh Theekshana: He took four crucial wickets with his bowling skills.
Richard Ngarava: Although Zimbabwe lost, Ngarava did exceptionally well by taking five wickets.
Sri Lanka’s win in this thrilling match adds extra excitement to the series. The ups and downs in the game show how unpredictable and fun cricket can be.
As the series continues, both teams will be looking to improve and give cricket fans more exciting matches to enjoy.
