ZIM vs SL

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "It is a pleasure to have a win. Both the teams fought really hard. As I said, we looked to do the basics right. The boys did that well. During the toss, I wanted a big hundred from one guy and we got that. They have been performing really well at the A team level and the others are also doing a good job for the team. I said to the boys, especially to Pathum (Nissanka) and Janith (Liyanage), let's try to run hard. Of course, every time Sri Lankans support us very well and I would like to thank them on behalf of the team."

Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)- " I'm really happy as I was a bit short of runs in ODI cricket. I've done well here and have proved myself in this format. I wanted to contribute for the side and I believe in myself. The Zimbabwe seamers did well in the powerplay. The track was quite good for batting otherwise. " 

Sean Williams (Zimbabwe Captain): "Today's match was a tough one to swallow. The series as a whole could have had a different result. There were a few areas where we made errors. During the middle overs, we could have done better. We did as much as we possibly could with the ball but Sri Lanka batted very well. Once you get a partnership like they did, it is difficult to stop a side. Definitely, those small chances make a lot of difference in the end."

Sri Lanka 278/5 from 49.3 overs
 
Pathum Nissanka 122(136) | Richard Ngrava 2/53
Charith Asalanka 71(60) | Brad Evans 2/54

We've witnessed another really close game of ODI cricket but Sri Lanka have prevailed over Zimbabwe in the end. The Chevrons kept fighting throughout the innings as the wickets were hard to come by and in the end, they did push the Lankans. But the experience of the visitors was far too much and the presence of Nissanka and Asalanka till the final few overs helped their cause. In the end, Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis did it with ease in the last two overs. It's a real heartbreak for the Zimbabweans who have been on the wrong side of the results for the last two games. 

Ngarava and Muzarabni started off well and bowled tight lines early on in the innings. Fernando and Nissanka found it hard to get going in the first few overs but post that the boundaries started to come. Nissanka was the more attacking of the two and he moved into 30's by the end of the powerplay. The breakthrough for Zimbabwe came finally as Brad Evans cleaned up Nuwanidu Fernando post the powerplay and brought the chevrons back into the contest.

Evans continued to bowl tidy lines and picked up Mendis with a short delivery to put Sri Lanka under the pump. However Pathum Nissanka was determined not to let Zimbabwe get their way. He continued to get the boundaries and picked up his 50. Williams and Raza kept things tidy for a while as Samarawickrama got himself in but at the halfway stage of the game, Sri Lanka were in a good position needing less than 7 runs per over.

Ernest Masuku came back into the attack and picked up a wicket as Zimbabwe looked to tighten the screws. However, Nissanka was in no mood to let off the chevrons and he scored a magnificent 100 after Evans dropped him earlier. Asalanka meanwhile got himself going and started to accelerate. By the time the game entered the last 10 overs, Sri Lanka needed just 67 runs to win and were clear favorites.

For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava picked up a couple of big wickets towards the end but it was too late by that point. The partnership between Nissanka and Asalanka was the turning point in the game and once they had done their job, the hosts were always behind the eight ball. In the end, Sri Lanka won it quiet easily much to the contradiction of what the scorecard would suggest. 

49.3 Blessing Muzarabani to Kamindu Mendis, SRI LANKA SEAL THE SERIES 2-0! Short outside0off, Kamindu pulls it behind square for a single as Sri Lanka get home with five wickets and three balls to spare!

49.2 Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, slow length delivery bowled wide of off, Liyanage cracks it to covers where the fielder runs to his right and dives to stop the ball. Single taken and scores level now.

49.1 Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, short of a length and angling in, Liyanage looks to pull but the ball stays low and goes past the bat. No run.

Just two runs to win now and Sri Lanka should be home here. The wicket of Asalanka gave Zimbabwe some hope but a brilliant bit of innovation by Kamindu Mendis ensured that Sri Lanka got the boundary. 

48.6 Richard Ngarava to Kamindu Mendis, CHEEKY!  Full-toss angling in, Kamindu reverse-paddles it fine of the man at short third for a boundary. It did come off the under-edge of the bat but fortune favours the brave as they say.

Brilliant knock from Asalanka. But Zimbabwe will believe that it's still possible probably. Sri Lanka need 6 runs from the final 7 balls. Kamindu Mendis will out in the middle and he might be tempted to do it one hit.