Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe 3rd Odi 11 January 2024

3rd ODI • R.Premadasa Stadium • Colombo

Zimbabwe

96/10 (22.5)

Sri Lanka

97/2 (16.4)

SL won by 8 wickets (D/L method)

Info

Fantasy

Live

Scorecard

Playing XI

Playing XILineups Out

Fantasy Top Picks

Expert Team 1

R Ngarava

M Theekshana

Expert Team 2

S Raza

J Liyanage

Venue Details

R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

PitchFast & Bounce

Pace BowlingPace & Bounce

Batting ConditionAverage

Spin BowlingAverage

1st Innings

240Avg Runs

8Avg Wkts

84.19Avg SR

2nd Innings

200Avg Runs

7Avg Wkts

81.12Avg SR

Team Form (Last 5 Matches, Most recent first)

Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

Head To Head (Last 10 Matches)

6- 4

ZIM

Team Comparison (Last 10 Matches)

Matches Played

Matches Won

267

Average Score

224

428/5

Highest Score

318/9

156/10

Lowest Score

104/10

Player of the Match Wanindu Hasaranga

7/19

Commentary

It was a long day in the office but Wanindu Hasaranga who was returning from a long lay off made sure that the day ended rather quickly. A mesmerizing spell which bamboozled Zimbabwe and rolled them over for just 96. In the end, it was a pretty simple run chase for Sri Lanka as they win the series 2-0. Like always it was a pleasure bringing all the live coverage from this encounter. You can switch tabs to follow the SA20 game which is currently underway. For now, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Rajarshi Das. Goodnight! Cheers!

It's time for the Sri Lankan players to pose with the trophy. The ODi series is done and dusted. We will be back with the T20I series starting from 14th January (Sunday).

Kusal Mendis spoke in Sinhalese and as mentioned by Roshan Abeysinghe, he was very happy with the all round performance and especially with some one like Liyanage who made an impact in his maiden series.

Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe captain): Obviously guys showed a lot of fight. We had a decent start today as well. What Wanindu did after the rain break was exceptional. Our bowlers hit the right areas but we couldn't compound that together. It was difficult conditions. Blessing kept the ball nipping around. Look out options against spin are very limited which we saw today. Hopefully we can work on that leading into the T20s and put up a better performance.

Janith Liyanage is the Player of the Series, here is what he had to say: I feel very pleased and very happy. Actually I have been performing well in the domestic season so I was thinking if I can do it there, I can do it here as well. I just backed my skills. I don't mind playing anywhere in the team as long as I can play well and do whatever requires for the team. It has been really good. Zimbabwe played really good cricket, gave us a good fight. They were up for it as well.

Wanindu Hasaranga is the Player Of The Match! Here's what he has to say: I came back after four and a half months. I have to thank everyone who supported me throughout those four months. The last time I played was in the LPL, I worked hard to come back here. I played two domestic games before coming back, so I'm happy. No, I'm not aware of the records. (On his captaincy in the T20Is) We have a very balanced side, and we know the opposition very well. We try to do our basics well, and I hope we can win. (On whether the pressure of captaincy affects his performance) No, not really. I have been the captain of B-Love Kandy in the LPL, and we won it. Doesn't quite matter.

Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (DLS method, match reduced to 27 overs due to rain)

Kusal Mendis 66*(51) | Wanindu Hasaranga 7/19(5.5)
Joylord Gumbie 29(34) | Wellington Masakadza 1/15(2.4)

After getting tested in the first two ODIs, Sri Lanka absolutely thrashed Zimbabwe in the final ODI and took the series 2-0. The target of 97 was never going to challenge Sri Lanka and eventually, it was a comfortable eight-wicket victory for the home team. Richard Ngarava again started off brilliantly for Zimbabwe as he sneaked one through Avishka Fernando and replays revealed that there was a clear inside edge. It was a perfect start for Zimbabwe but Kusal Mendis came out firing on all cylinders and put the Zimbabwe bowlers on the backfoot.

He kept thrashing Muzarabani and Ngarava to all corners of the park and tried to smoke every delivery he was facing. It was power-hitting of the highest order and it certainly made things easy for the debutant Shevon Daniels at the other end. He struggled his way through to 12 off 28 deliveries before an attempted big shot ended his innings. Kusal Mendis went on to score a well-crafted half-century which included 9 fours and a six as Sri Lanka reached the target with utmost ease in the end. Samarawickrama was the other batter who remained unbeaten while Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza were the only takers for Zimbabwe.

Earlier in the day, it was the Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine who won the toss and opted to bat. Zimbabwe got off to a steady start on the back of the opening duo of Joylord Gumbie and Takudzwanashe Kaitano. Rain came in when they were 43/0 and after the break, it was a collapse of epic proportions from Zimbabwe. The introduction of Wanindu Hasaranga turned the game on its head as none of the Zimbabwe batters could pick his variations. He went on to bag seven wickets to skittle Zimbabwe out inside the 27th over for just 96 runs.

16.4 Wellington Masakadza to Sadeera Samarawickrama, that's that! Sri Lanka take the game and the series! Full, floated on off stump, Samarawickrama lunges forward, drives this one past the diving fielder at mid off, and the batters complete a comfortable brace to seal the game by 8 wickets!

16.3 Wellington Masakadza to Sadeera Samarawickrama, on a good length on off stump, Samarawickrama rocks back and defends

Just two more runs away from the victory target. A classical looking cut shot fetching him a boundary.

16.2 Wellington Masakadza to Sadeera Samarawickrama, pitched up on off stump, bit of flight this time. Defended

16.1 Wellington Masakadza to Sadeera Samarawickrama, FOUR! Short, wide outside off, Samarawickrama rocks back and across, cuts this one fiercely towards backward point, beats the fielder in the circle with ease!

The Sri Lankan batters are just taking a bit of time to get things done. Mendis with an attempted big shot which found the deep backward square leg fielder. Samarawickrama not in any hurry whatsoever. One hit away Sri Lanka.

overs

91 /2 score

runs

Kusal Mendis *

66 (51)

Sadeera Samarawickrama

8 (13)

Luke Jongwe

0 /10

15.6 Luke Jongwe to Kusal Mendis, on a good length on off, Mendis turns this one towards deep fine leg with the angle. Two taken as Ngarava tidies up

15.5 Luke Jongwe to Kusal Mendis, slower ball, on a length outside off, Mendis checks his shot and dabs this one towards silly point

15.4 Luke Jongwe to Sadeera Samarawickrama, full outside off, Samarawickrama lunges forward, drives this one towards mid off, and calls his partner through for a run

15.3 Luke Jongwe to Sadeera Samarawickrama, short, wide outside off, Samarawickrama got on top of it and cut, found the man at cover

15.2 Luke Jongwe to Kusal Mendis, full on middle and off, Mendis gave the charge, had a swing, the ball took the inner half of the blade and traveled towards the man at long leg. Just one

15.1 Luke Jongwe to Sadeera Samarawickrama, on a good length outside off, Samarawickrama gets on top of this one and turns it towards mid wicket for a run

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