Sri Lanka pulled off an exciting three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a final ball thriller within the first T20I in Colombo on Sunday. Requiring six runs off the final two balls, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera smashed a boundary off the penultimate ball. Then he pushed the final ball to sq. leg, scampering for 2 runs to maintain Sri Lanka’s unbeaten file towards Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals intact. Sri Lanka owed the win to 36-year-old former captain Angelo Mathews who, taking part in his first T20 International in nearly three years, high scored with 46.
Mathews had final featured in a T20I in March 2021, and was recalled to the facet as Sri Lanka look to bolster the group with skilled gamers within the lead as much as this yr’s T20 World Cup.
But Mathews paid tribute to Chameera.
“The best knock came from Dushmantha Chameera who scored those six runs in two balls,” Mathews mentioned.
“All our hard work would have been useless had he not connected.”
Sri Lanka have been 51 for 4 when Mathews walked out to bat, and added 32 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka.
It was an important rebuilding interval for Sri Lanka, however they have been again to sq. one when Sikandar Raza struck twice in his final over to scale back Sri Lanka to 83 for six.
Together with fellow all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, Mathews then was concerned in a 55-run stand to take Sri Lanka near victory.
Shanaka, who was axed as captain following final yr’s 50-over World Cup, completed unbeaten on 26.
Sri Lanka required 14 runs off the final over.
Mathews hit two boundaries from the primary two balls bowled by Blessing Muzarabani to deliver the equation down to 6 from 4 balls.
He tried one other large hit within the fourth supply, however did not clear the mid-wicket boundary and was dismissed for 46 from 38 balls with 5 fours and one six.
Chameera knocked off the remaining runs whereas Sikandar Raza’s sensible all-round efficiency was in useless.
The Zimbabwe captain had high scored with 62 in his group’s complete of 143 after which picked up three wickets, however that proved to not be sufficient.
It was Raza’s thirteenth T20 half-century. His 62 got here off 42 balls with 5 fours and two sixes.
“We are disappointed with the way the result went, but certainly not disappointed with the way we fought and courage we showed,” mentioned Raza.
“It was a great game to be part of. We hung in there and we are not going to blame the conditions. We have two more games and we will bounce back.”
The subsequent match is on Tuesday in Colombo.
(This story has been edited by Mahaz News workers …)
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Source web site: sports activities.ndtv.com
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