Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe with only seven points in the first ODI of the two-match series in the Harare Sports Club on Friday. The competition, which waved back and forth for most of the day, finally landed on the left pacer Dilshan Madushankawhose last hat trick took the game away from the home team.
The game started with Zimbabwe who won the Worp and chose to first go to Field. Pathum Nissanka’s 76 offered visitors a solid start, while Janith Liyanage (70* from 47) and Kamindu Mendis (57 out of 36) gave the late push that raised the score to 298/6 in their 50 overs.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Narava took two wickets for only 34 points in his 7.4 overs. Despite their efforts, Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to contain the lower order of Sri Lanka, with the last 10 overs produced 113 runs.
The host’s answer started badly when she lost Brian Bennett and veteran Brendan Taylor in the opening to Asitha Fernando. Ben Curran and skipper Sean Williams followed the innings with a 118-run partnership. Curran’s 70 and Williams ’57 put the team back on the right track before both quickly fell after each other.
With Wessly Madhevere left shortly thereafter, all-rounder Sikandar Raza took responsibility in himself and scored 92 of 87 balls. He, together with Tony Munyonga (43* from 52) to sail a 128-run position for the sixth Wicket, so that Zimbabwe would have been at a distance from what a famous victory would have been.
With 10 points needed from the last over and Raza in strike, Sri Lanka turned over to Dilshan Madushanka for the last one. Raza, who tried a shovel of the first ball, was bent. The left-arm Pacer followed by the dismissing of Brad Evans and Richard Narava on successive deliveries, completing a hat trick and crushing the hope of the opposition. Madushanka ended with 4/62 and earned the player from the Match Award.
Receive all cricket updates! Follow us:
#ZIM #1st #ODI #Review #Dilshan #Madushankas #hat #trick #leads #Sri #Lanka #narrow #ZevenRun #victory