Kamindo errors showed his Power game on Wednesday 3 September to help Sri Lanka take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20i series in the Harare Sports Club.
Charith Asalanka won the pitch in the first T20i and chose to first bowl. While Tadiwanashe Marumani and Sean Williams didn’t let it count, Brian Bennett played a blinder of an innings to help Zimbabwe collect 59 points in the Powerplay.
The right -handed Slagman added half -century partnerships with Captain Sikandar Raza and veteran Allrounder Ryan Burl to help his team form a solid foundation. However, two wickets fell in the last two overs respectively, because the hosts were limited to 175/7. Bennett scored top for the chevrons, 81 hit 81 from only 57 balls, with 12 limits being laid.
Dushmantha Chameera turned out to be the choice of the bowlers and ended with figures of 3/30 in four overs. Dushan Hemantha also bent well, admitted only 28 runs and took a lonely wicket.
In response, Sri Lanka came to a sizzling start when the opening partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 96 points in the first 11 overs. However, Zimbabwe took a flurry of wickets through the middle overs to get back into the game. From 96/0 at the end of 10 overs, Sri Lanka drops to 142/6 after more than no. 17.
34 runs were required for the last three overs. Kamindu Mendis hit four sixes and one four during his unbeaten knock of 41 runs of only 16 balls. Hemantha also broke in with an unbeaten 14 of the nine balls while Sri Lanka ran home in 19.1 to save over with four wickets.
Richard Narava threw good enchantment and took two wickets for 19 points in four overs. Raza also bowed well to end with 1/26 in four overs. However, it was not enough to bring Zimbabwe to victory.
The two teams will compete in the second T20i at the same location on Saturday 6 September. Sri Lanka wants to complete the series, while Zimbabwe has no other option than to win.
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