By Brian Thomas
Pathum Nissanka scored his 7th ODI hundred and stitched together a 90-run partnership with skipper Charith Asalanka for the 4th wicket, as Sri Lanka fought hard to secure a 5-wicket victory with 3 balls to spare. The win sent a clear message to world cricket that Zimbabwe are a formidable white-ball outfit, especially in their own backyard.
Put into bat, the home team built excellent partnerships to set Sri Lanka a target of 278 runs, with three noteworthy stands. The Sri Lankan seamers were guilty of bowling too many wides and leg-side deliveries on a batter-friendly pitch in Harare today.
Brian Bennett and Ben Curren added 55 runs for the first wicket before Bennett was cleaned up for 21, playing across a back-of-a-length delivery from Dushmantha Chameera.
Curren, who had scored 70 in the first ODI, again threw his wicket away after making 79, following a 61-run second-wicket stand with Brendon Taylor.
Asitha Fernando, wayward in his first spell, struck two crucial blows in one over, dismissing the Zimbabwe skipper for 20 and Curren for 79, as Zimbabwe slipped to 176 for 5 in the 37th over.
Once again, it was Sikandar Raza who rescued Zimbabwe from distress. He joined wicketkeeper Clive Madande for a valuable 76-run partnership for the 6th wicket, finishing unbeaten on 59 off 55 deliveries. Madande contributed 36, helping Zimbabwe post a competitive total of 277 for 7 in their 50 overs.
Dushmantha Chameera claimed 3 for 52, while Asitha Fernando picked up 2 for 67, slightly expensive by his standards, but provided key breakthroughs. Unfortunately, Maheesh Theekshana went wicketless yet again, conceding 45 runs in his 10-over spell with 1 maiden.
For the fifth-bowler option, skipper Asalanka and Janith Liyanage shared duties, conceding 47 runs for 1 wicket, a much-improved performance compared to the first ODI, where Sri Lanka’s fifth-bowler cost 80 runs.
Chasing 278 was always going to be a challenge.
Pathum Nissanka, despite dropping Raza earlier at wide mid-on, redeemed himself with a magnificent 122, his 7th ODI century, guiding Sri Lanka to the target with 3 balls to spare. The right-hander’s innings included 16 boundaries, and his partner in the victory march was skipper Charith Asalanka.
Sri Lanka lost Sadeera Samarawickrama for 34 with the score on 146, but Asalanka joined Nissanka to stitch a 90-run stand for the 4th wicket, putting Zimbabwe on the back foot.
However, Samarawickrama, who batted at number 4, has yet to make the position his own. Moreover, Sri Lanka still struggles to find a consistent opening partner for Nissanka. Selectors may need to identify a reliable option soon, as Nuwindu Fernando also shows significant technical flaws in his footwork at this level.
Though Nissanka and Asalanka couldn’t stay till the end, Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis saw Sri Lanka home.
Sri Lanka clinched the match by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare, sealing the series 2–0. Pathum Nissanka was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series, amassing 195 runs across two innings.
Zimbabwe’s bowling was disciplined, with Brad Evans and Sean Williams impressing with seam and spin. However, Sri Lanka’s batters used their experience well, rotating the strike cleverly and picking up singles and twos with a calculated approach.
Zimbabwe remain a very competitive side. One can only wish they had more opportunities to play against the world’s top teams.
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