Dilshan Madushanka delivered a brilliant last over, including a hat-trick, as Sri Lanka won the first One-Day International in Harare by a dramatic 7-run on Friday, August 29. Sikandar Raza’s 87-ball 92 was in vain.
Madushanka dismissed Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava off the following two balls after removing Raza with the first ball while defending 10 runs from the last over.
A blessing Tony Munyonga, who was batting at 42, had to get nine off the final two deliveries after Muzarabani took a single from the fourth ball. He did, however, miss a low full toss, ending Zimbabwe’s chances of pursuing the aim.
Throughout the whole chase, the game oscillated. In an attempt to reach 292, the hosts lost Brendan Taylor and Brian Bennett in the first over without scoring a run. However, with both batsmen hitting half-centuries, Sean Williams and Ben Curran steadied the chase with a 118-run partnership for the third wicket. Williams scored quickly, but Curran was more cautious in his approach. He even went all the way down the course and hit Maheesh Theekshana and Charith Asalanka for sixes.
But when he tried to sweep Kamindu Mendis and holed out to the fielder at deep square leg, his aggressive style ultimately proved to be his undoing. Asitha Fernando returned to the attack and took his third wicket of the session, dismissing Curran at 70 with a short-pitched delivery—just the opening Sri Lanka needed. Even Wesley Madhevere was dismissed at the end of the 30th over, leaving the hosts reeling at 161 for 5. In a sense, it was the same score that Sri Lanka had encountered. However, Zimbabwe was unable to go into fifth gear like the visitors did.
Zimbabwe was once again forced to salvage their innings with their backs against the wall, and this time it was thanks to a fast-paced 138-run partnership between Raza and Munyonga. Despite being generally cautious, the pair took calculated chances to guarantee that the scoring rate never decreased. Nuwanidu Fernando dropped Munyonga at sweeper cover on 35, but it ultimately didn’t make much of a difference. They also benefited from line-making mistakes made by the Sri Lankan spinners, who gave up 16 wides during the innings. But the hosts failed to reach the goal in spite of their best efforts.
When the visitors were invited to bat earlier in the day, Pathum Nissanka’s 76 was the high point of Sri Lanka’s innings. Nishan Madushka was caught off guard by a 13-ball duck. But a century stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had guaranteed a solid beginning.
Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama were dismissed shortly after both batters fell, putting Sri Lanka at 161/5. However, the attack by Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in the second half of the innings totally changed the tide of the match. Trevor Gwandu, who was dismantled for 23 runs in the last over, was the target of the most vicious onslaught.
Along the way to their respective breezy half-centuries, the pair scored 137 runs in just 83 balls, helping Sri Lanka reach a respectable total.
India
