Sri Lanka managed to record a 7-run win in the first ODI against Zimbabwe today, thanks to a hat-trick from Dilshan Madushanka in the last over of the match.
Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 298 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Pathum Nissanka scored 76 (92), Janith Liyanage 70 (47) and Kamindu Mendis 57 (36).
Kusal and Pathum shared a 100 (128) partnership for the second wicket, while Kamindu and Janith shared a 137 (83) partnership for the sixth wicket.
Zimbabwe, in reply, could only manage 291 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.
Asitha Fernando took both of Zimbabwe’s first wickets in the first over of the innings. Brian Bennett was dismissed for no runs on the first ball, and Brendan Taylor was dismissed for no runs on the fourth ball of the same over. However, Ben Curran scored 70 runs and Shaun Williams scored 57 runs to bring Zimbabwe back into the fray. The two of them put on a 118 (130) run partnership for the third wicket.
Sikanda Raza and Tony Munyonga put on a valuable 128 (115) run partnership for the sixth wicket to take Zimbabwe close to victory.
They needed 17 runs to win the match in the last two overs, and only 10 runs were needed in the final over.
However, with Madushanka managing to dismiss Raza for 92 off the first ball of the final over, Sri Lanka regained their hopes of winning the match.
Madushanka completed his hat-trick in the second ball of that over by dismissing Brad Evans for a duck and Richard Ngarawa for a duck. He became the 8th bowler to take a hat-trick for Sri Lanka in ODIs.
Munyonga was unbeaten on 43. Madushanka was also named man of the match for his bowling figures of 4 for 62. Asitha Fernando took 3 wickets for 50 runs.
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