Sri Lanka pulled off an exhilarating three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a final ball thriller within the first Twenty20 worldwide in Colombo on Sunday.
Requiring six runs off the final two balls, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera smashed a boundary off the penultimate ball.
Then he pushed the final ball to sq. leg, scampering for 2 runs to maintain Sri Lanka’s unbeaten file in opposition to Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals intact.
Sri Lanka owed the win to 36-year-old former captain Angelo Mathews who, enjoying his first T20 Worldwide in virtually three years, prime scored with 46.
Mathews had final featured in a T20 worldwide in March 2021, and was recalled to the aspect as Sri Lanka look to bolster the workforce with skilled gamers within the lead as much as this yr’s T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka have been 51 for 4 when Mathews walked out to bat, and added 32 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka.
It was a vital rebuilding interval for Sri Lanka, however they have been again to sq. one when Sikandar Raza struck twice in his final over to scale back Sri Lanka to 83 for six.
Sikandar Raza’s fantastic type continued with the Zimbabwe captain prime scoring with 62 in his workforce’s complete of 143. He additionally picked up three wickets, however that proved to be in useless.
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
Sikandar Raza’s fantastic type continued with the Zimbabwe captain prime scoring with 62 in his workforce’s complete of 143. He additionally picked up three wickets, however that proved to be in useless.
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
Along with fellow all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, Mathews then was concerned in a 55-run stand to take Sri Lanka near victory.
Shanaka, who was axed as captain following final yr’s 50-over World Cup, completed unbeaten on 26.
Sri Lanka required 14 runs off the final over.
Mathews hit two boundaries from the primary two balls bowled by Blessing Muzarabani to deliver the equation down to 6 from 4 balls.
He tried one other massive hit within the fourth supply, however did not clear the mid-wicket boundary and was dismissed for 46, from 38 balls with 5 fours and one six.
Chameera knocked off the remaining runs whereas Sikandar Raza’s good all-round efficiency was in useless.
The Zimbabwe captain had prime scored with 62 in his workforce’s complete of 143 after which picked up three wickets, however that proved to be in useless.
It was Raza’s thirteenth T20 half-century. His 62 got here off 42 balls with 5 fours and two sixes.
The following match is on Tuesday in Colombo.