2012 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 V Zimbabwe – Ajantha Mendis bags Sri Lanka big win – Match Recap
Sri Lankan off-spinner Ajantha Mendis scythed through the Zimbabwe batting line up to help the hosts crush the Group C minnows by 82 runs in the curtain raiser of the latest instalment of the ICC World T20 Championship, here at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota, on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.
After being put in to bat, the hosts recovered from a slow start to post a 182 for four in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy Kumar Sangakkara (44 off 26) and Jeevan Mendis (unbeaten 43 off 30).
Defending the huge total, which was always out of Zimbabwe’s reach, Mendis battered his own T20 record by picking up six wickets for just eight runs in his spell of four overs, including two maidens, as the whole team of Zimbabwe was bundled out for just 100 in 17.3 overs.
After putting the hosts in, Zimbabwean bowlers did well in the early part of the Sri Lankan innings, restricting the formidable Lankan top order to 107 for 3 in 14 overs. Debutant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eldeniya-Meda-Gedara-Dilshan-Yasika-Munaweera-c55846 (17) became the first causality of the day after being run out by Taylor off Mpofu’s throw.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 also threw away his wicket carelessly, while attempting a needless double in the 12th over, to leave the side 82 for 3 on the board.
After Jayawardene’s dismissal, all-rounder Jeevan Mendis joined veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 at the crease, and the duo took the sting out of the opposition attack looting them for 75 runs in the last six overs, to take the game away from the minnows. The two left-handers shared a fourth wicket stand of 94 runs to take the hosts to a competitive total of 182 for 4.
The target proved too big to manage for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AG-Cremer-c947 (17) were the other two notable performers, while the rest of the batting line-up struggled to get past 11-run mark.
Ajantha Mendis’ startling six wicket haul was well complemented by the other Mendis, Jeevan, who returned with figures of 3 for 24 in four overs. Limited-overs bowling specialist http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BAW-Mendis-c1127 was adjudged as the Man of the Match.
Zimbabwe will next play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 on Thursday, while Sri Lanka will take on the same opposition on Saturday.
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