Sri Lanka crush Zimbabwe to stay alive in T20I tri-series
RAWALPINDI: Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 98 after a collective bowling effort led Sri Lanka to a resounding nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the must-win Pakistan-hosted T20I tri-series match here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest 147-run target, the 2014 champions comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just one wicket and 22 balls to spare, courtesy of Nissanka’s blazing knock. The right-handed opener led Sri Lanka’s batting charge with an unbeaten 98, coming off just 58 deliveries and featuring 11 fours and four sixes. He received notable support from fellow top-order batters Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis, who made 12 and 25 not out, respectively. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans remained the solitary wicket-taker with one scalp. Opting to bat first, the Chevrons managed to accumulate 146/5 in their allotted 20 overs despite brisk cameos from all-rounder Ryan Burl and captain Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe got off to a dismal start to their innings as Maheesh Theekshana rocked their top order by dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers in his first two overs, bringing the total down to 17/2. Following the early debacle, experienced Brendan Taylor (14) joined Bennett for a brief anchoring 36-run partnership for the third wicket until falling victim to Dasun Shanaka in the eighth over. Bennett was then involved in another 36-run partnership – a crucial fourth-wicket stand with captain Raza – until coping a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal against Wanindu Hasaranga. The right-handed opener remained a notable run-getter for the Chevrons, scoring 34 off 26 deliveries with the help of four fours and a six. Raza followed suit two overs later, also falling prey to Hasaranga, and remained the joint top-scorer with 37 off 29 deliveries, comprising five fours and a six. Burl then took the reins of Zimbabwe’s batting charge and played an unbeaten 37-run cameo off just 26 deliveries, smashing as many boundaries as Raza.
Batting all-rounder Tashinga Musekiwa held one together firmly amid Burl’s blitz and returned unbeaten with a cautious six off 14 deliveries. For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga and Theekshana picked up two wickets each, while skipper Shanaka chipped in with one. Staff Report
