Dilshan Madushanka bowled a terrific final over, which included a hat-trick © AFP Sikandar Raza’s 87-ball 92 went in vain as Dilshan Madushanka bowled a terrific final over, which included a hat-trick, as Sri Lanka secured a thrilling 7-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first One-Day International in Harare, on Friday (August 29). Defending 10 runs from the final over, Madushanka cleaned up Raza off the first ball, and then followed it up dismissing Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava off the next two balls. Blessing Muzarabani took a single off the fourth ball to leave Tony Munyonga, who was batting on 42, with the task of getting nine off the last two deliveries. However, he missed a low full toss and brought an end to Zimbabwe’s hopes of chasing down the target. The game see-sawed through the entire course of the chase. The hosts, in pursuit of 292, lost Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor without a run on the board in the opening over. However, Sean Williams and Ben Curran steadied the chase with a 118-run stand for the third wicket, with both the batters stroking half-centuries. While Curran was more watchful with his approach, Williams scored at a brisk pace. He even went down the track and hit both Charith Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana for sixes. However, his aggressive approach eventually brought about his downfall when he holed out to the fielder at deep square leg while attempting to sweep Kamindu Mendis. That dismissal was just the opening Sri Lanka were looking for as Asitha Fernando returned to athe attack and snapped his third wicket of the innings, sending back Curran, on 70, with a short-pitched delivery. By the end of the 30th over, even Wesley Madhevere was sent back and the hosts were left reeling at 161 for 5. In a way, it was the same score Sri Lanka had found themselves in with. But unlike the visitors, Zimbabwe couldn’t go on the fifth gear. With their backs to the wall, Zimbabwe were yet again left with having to revive their innings – this time, it came courtesy a well-paced 138-run stand between Raza and Munyonga. The duo took well-calulated risks to ensure the scoring rate never dropped even while being largely cautious. Munyonga was dropped by Nuwanidu Fernando at sweeper cover on 35, but that was to make little difference eventually. They were also aided by errors in lines by the Sri Lankan bowlers, who conceded 16 wides in the innings. However, despite their effort, the hosts fell short of the target. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka’s innings was led by Pathum Nissanka’s 76 after the visitors were asked to bat. Nishan Madushka fell for a 13-ball duck. However a century stand between Kusal Mendis and Nissanka had ensured a strong start. Both the batters fell in quick succession, followed by the dismissals of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Asalanka, leaving Sri Lanka at 161/5. Nonetheless, Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis’s assault in the latter half of the innings completely shifted the momentum. The most brutal of the attack was reserved for Trevor Gwandu who was taken apart for 23 runs in the penultimate over. The duo added 137 runs in only 83 balls enroute their respective breezy half-centuries to help Sri Lanka to a solid total. Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 298/6 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 76, Janith Liyanage 70*; Richard Ngarava 2-34) beat Zimbabwe 291/8 in 50 overs (Sikandar Raza 92, Ben Curran 70; Dilshan Madushanka 4-62, Asitha Fernando 3-50) by 7 runs.
