Sri Lankans strike form in Zimbabwe
It was a match that was supposed to consist of 50 overs per side. But lackluster performance from Zimbabwe, excellent captaincy by Tillekaratne Dilshan as well as help from the rain gods helped Sri Lanka down the hosts by 9 wickets in the third match of the tri-nation in Bulawayo, where India is the third side.
None of the batsmen were able to match the bowling attack of the visiting side except the ever-performing Hamilton Masakadza. The Lankans were in the attacking mode from the very first delivery, and continued to take wickets despite Masakadza’s resistance. The opening batsmen scored more than half of the runs for his side, notching up 62 off 69 balls while the hosts managed mere 118 in 24.5 overs.
Although the game was reduced to 26 overs due to rain, Sri Lanka called the shots with Suraj Randiv teaming up with mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis & newcomer Jeewan Mendis who helped strangulate the hosts for a total they would have found difficult to defend in any conditions.
The new-ball pair of Nuwan Kulasekara and Dilhara Fernando also deserve special mention since it was they who teamed up to make the collapse happen. While Kulasekara kept the pressure with accurate bowling, Fernando started the demolition job with two wickets as the hosts failed to capitalize on Masakadza’s innings.
Zimbabwe, who defeated India in the opening match of the series, were unable to recreate the magic. Skipper Elton Chigumbura erred by sending in Greg Lamb at No.3 in a rain-reduced game ahead of hitters like Andy Blignaut, Craig Ervine and himself. Lamb scored a patient 10 off 19 deliveries, and helped his opponents than his team mates!
The hero of the last match Craig Ervine couldn’t tackle the spinners as he did in his debut match against India. His 3 runs came from 18 deliveries and that piled on the pressure for the hosts who couldn’t recover these losses. Although Masakadza scored his runs quickly, hitting boundaries whenever given a loose delivery, he didn’t get support from his fellow batsmen. His dismissal on the penultimate over of the innings shows how well he batted for his team. The combined score of his 10 team-mates was just 43 runs, while 13 extras contributed to the total.
Sadly, when the visitors batted, no bowler from the home team could do what the Sri Lankans did easily. It seemed the islanders were destined to win, hitting boundaries at will and making others wonder whether the match was being played on the same pitch or some new one. Chris Mpofu was hit for 14 runs by Upul Tharanga and that’s when the Sri Lankan skipper Tillekaratne Dilshan seized the momentum and began an aggressive innings that took his side through. He celebrated his return to form with a half century that was studded with 7 fours and a huge six off Greg Lamb. Dilshan faced 45 deliveries for his knock and was instrumental in his side’s chasing the required total in just the 16th over.
India is the third team in the event who have lost one and won one match so far, just like hosts Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The latter head the points table since Dilshan had the presence of mind to score the runs quickly and earn the bonus point, midway through the series. Suraj Randiv was declared Man of the match for his majestic bowling, and if the Lankans continue to play the way they have done in this match, there is nothing either Zimbabwe or India can do to stop their ascent!
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