1st ODI, Kandy, January 16, 2022, 02:30 PM
296/9(50.0ov)
Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets
So that is all we have from this match, Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in this 3-match series. The second ODI will be played on 18th January at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT). Do join us for the same. Till then, Adios!
Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of Sri Lanka, starts by thanking the crowd who came to support. Says the chase was a big one but his batters showed maturity and chased it down. Tells that chasing a big total becomes a concern when you are one batter short but they will work on it in the next game.
Craig Ervine, the skipper of Zimbabwe says that they are disappointed to not come with a win. Adds that their batters did well but still feels like they were 10-20 runs short. Tells that they just need to bowl in tight areas.
Dinesh Chandimal is the Man of the Match, he says that he is over the moon about his performance but would have loved to finish off the game. He states that there has been up and down in his career and adds that thankfully things are working for him now. He says that he is trying to be old Chandimal and he used to play like this when he was young and he is happy with his cricket now.
... The Presentation ...
Earlier in the day, it was the openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Regis Chakabva who gave a good start for Zimbabwe but it was William's century that boosted them to 296. At one stage it looked like a defendable one but their bowlers were not on the mark. Stay tuned for the presentation.
It felt like Zimbabwe were missing an experienced bowler. They used 8 different bowlers but most were part-time. There was never a phase where Zimbabwe held tightly and showed some threat. They did found wickets at regular intervals but the next batter came in and build the partnership with ease. Only Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava showed menace and bowled with some intent but other than that it was a tiring day for the bowlers. A bad toss to win one reckon for Zimbabwe.
The pitch was flat and easy to play on as the game progressed. Sri Lanka did not have any major hiccups to chase this huge target. A quite cozy one. It was their openers who gave them a solid start. Kusal Mendis was playing so beautifully but fell through. Nissanka stayed though with Chandimal and together both build a partnership of 66. Nissanka was all set to continue but perished and then Charith Asalanka joined and stitched a partnership with Chandimal. One thing Sri Lanka did well was they did not hasten and took their time to settle in. There was once a period where the boundaries dried up but the singles were coming along nicely and that made Lanka's job easier.
The Hosts kick off the series with a win as they go 1-0 up quite comfortably. Zimbabwe will feel they were a bowler short or the ones they had needed to put some pressure on the batters as it was an easy chase in the end.
In over# 49
4
1
1
1
Blessing Muzarabani 57/1(9.4)
48.4
4
FOUR! Chamika Karunaratne finishes the chase in style! A shorter length delivery around middle and leg by Blessing Muzarabani. Chamika Karunaratne stays deep in his crease and pulls it strongly towards backward square leg for a boundary. Sri Lanka win by five wickets!
48.3
1
A short ball and Dasun Shanaka pulls it to fine leg for a single.
48.2
1
Back of a length around leg. Chamika Karunaratne tucks it square on the leg side for a single.
48.1
1
On a length, on middle. Dasun Shanaka works it behind square on the on side for a single.
Chamika Karunaratne comes in.
Review! Charith Asalanka take the review after been given LBW. No bat involved there. Ball Tracker shows umpire's call on impact and the wickets were hitting.
In over# 48
0W
6
1
0
0
0
Richard Ngarava 56/3(9)
47.6
W
OUT! LBW! Charith Asalanka departs and Richard Ngarava gets another one. Charith Asalanka will be disappointed that he could not finish the chase but it has been an entertaining innings from the young man. Back of a length around off and angling into the batter. Charith Asalanka looks to work it towards the on side but misses. The ball hits his pads and there is a huge appeal. The umpire raises his finger and Charith Asalanka reviews it. The Ball Tracker shows that it is umpire's call on impact and it is hitting the stumps. So Charith Asalanka has to walk back and Sri Lanka are five down now but with just five runs needed.
47.5
6
SIX! SHOT! Richard Ngarava serves this short on middle. Charith Asalanka is already hanging on the back foot as he is expecting a short ball. He pulls it over deep square leg for a biggie.
