Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe, 2 ODI Series, 2025 |2nd ODI |8/31/2025 Harare Sports Club, Harare
Commentary
A clinical performance from Sri Lanka and the trophy has been handed over to Charith Asalanka. His teammates join him as they pose for the cameras. That is all from this game. A rarity to see a two-match ODI series. We now turn our focus to the shortest format of the game. These two will meet again for a three-match T20I series. Join us on the 3rd of September at 11.30 am GMT for the series opener. You can join us early for the build-up as well. Cheers!
The skipper of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka, says it's an honour to lead the team over the line. Mentions both teams put in a strong performance to make it a thriller. Tells Pathum Nissanka's inning was impressive and they just talked about hitting the gaps and running hard. Appreciates the support and tells that they have support all over the world. He says that he told the players to maintain some positive intent out there in the middle and is happy with the overall team performance. Lauds the century from Pathum as well. And credits the local domestic circuit for new players coming into the team. Ends by thanking the Sri Lankan supporters who turned out at the ground.
Pathum Nissanka is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH and also the PLAYER OF THE SERIES. Nissanka shares that he is happy to have returned to form. Adds that he wanted to do well for the team and believed in himself to do the job. States that there was not much of a difference in terms of how the wicket played in this game as compared to the previous game. Admits that it was tough in the first Powerplay against experienced bowlers like Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.
The skipper of Zimbabwe, Sean Williams believes that there was a fine line that differentiated the result between the two teams. Credits Sri Lanka for their performance. Feels the middle order let them down a bit. Admits the chances that came their way would have changed the momentum of the game.
...Presentation...
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka made a good decision to bowl first on a two-paced pitch. Apart from their fielding, where they dropped a couple of catches along with a few misfields, they executed their bowling plans to keep Zimbabwe at a par score. Although Zimbabwe scored 277, they left a few runs out there and would have easily accelerated in the middle phase but instead lost wickets which dampened their plans.
Zimbabwe came close in both games but lost in crunch situations. In this game, they had the chance to accelerate with the bat but instead lost wickets, while with the ball, they failed to hold onto their chances. Zimbabwean bowlers tried hard, but the fielders didn't back them up. Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans were the pick of the bowlers as they picked two wickets each, while Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams kept it tight in the middle phase. However, we feel Zimbabwe were slightly short of runs.
Sri Lanka were off to a watchful start. The openers, Pathum Nissanka and Nuwanidu Fernando, were patient in their build up and once the ball got soft, they went after the loose deliveries. Sri Lanka lost two wickets after the first Powerplay but Sadeera Samarawickrama came in clutch to play the helping hand to Pathum Nissanka, who looked in good rhythm up front. He smoked 16 boundaries on the road to his century while having some luck behind his back as he was dropped earlier in his innings. The majority of Sri Lanka's job was done by Pathum Nissanka but they required someone to play the finisher's role and the skipper stepped up to do the job. His innings was vital for the Lankan win. It was filled with a lot of running as boundaries were hard to come by and despite pulling his hamstring, Charith Asalanka's innings did the job for Sri Lanka.
A commanding performance by Sri Lanka and they have successfully clinched the series. It wasn't easy at all as Zimbabwe gave them a tough fight. They bowled really, really well but a few dropped catches and run out chances went away, which probably could be the only answer to their unsuccessful effort to the defence.
49.3
1
Blessing Muzarabani to Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka get over the line! Blessing Muzarabani goes short, over middle, Kamindu Mendis gets on top of the bounce and helps the pull behind square on the leg side for a single. Sri Lanka clinch the series with a 2-0 scoreline!
49.2
1
Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, Keeps it near the tramline on off, on a length, Janith reaches out and pushes it to the right of cover where the fielder dives to cut it off. The batters cross for one and the scores are level!
49.1
0
Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, Off-pace delivery, on a hard length, over middle, Janith Liyanage hangs back and swivels to pull it away but the ball goes under the bat.
END OF OVER 49 | 10 Runs & 1 Wkt | SL 276/5
48.6
4
Richard Ngarava to Kamindu Mendis, FOUR! A very brave shot from Kamindu Mendis and he gets rewarded! Richard goes very full, on middle, Mendis changes the grip on the bat handle and gets low for the reverse. Gets more off an edge and it goes through his legs before beating short third to his right. Sri Lanka need 2 runs from the final over.
Kamindu Mendis comes in next with 6 runs needed in 7 balls.
48.5
W
Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Charith Asalanka tries to take the short ball on but perishes and the hope flickers for Zimbabwe! Ngarava goes short, over middle, Charith swings to get the pull shot away but the ball gets big on him. It is skied off the splice of the bat in front of deep mid-wicket. Brian Bennett runs in off the ropes and takes a safe catch. Sri Lanka lose their skipper, needing 6 runs in 7 balls.
48.4
4
Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, FOUR! CHANCE GOES DOWN! Massive misjudgement in the deep! Richard Ngarava keeps it at the stumps, on a length, Charith clears his front leg to go big on the off side. Slices it towards deep point where Wessly Madhevere runs in and overruns the ball. Realises that the ball is going over him and he runs over his left shoulder. Puts the dive in but the ball evades him and trickles into the fence.
48.3
1
Richard Ngarava to Janith Liyanage, Keeps it full and straight, not allowing the batter to get under the ball. Janith Liyanage ends up slicing it to the left of extra cover for a single.
48.2
1
Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, Another well-executed yorker, outside off, Charith Asalanka jams it out to deep point for one.
48.1
0
Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, Starts well, does Ngarava! Gets the yorker in, tailing in at the toes, Charith Asalanka gets his bat down but the ball sneaks past the bat and goes through his legs.
END OF OVER 48 | 10 Runs & 0 Wkt | SL 266/4
47.6
4
Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, FOUR! Powered away! Blessing keeps it short and does not offer any pace, outside off, Janith Liyanage backs away and slaps it aerially. Hits it wide enough of the man at deep point to his right for a boundary. Run-a-ball needed for Sri Lanka. 12 from 12.
47.5
0
Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, Swing and a miss! Blessing Muzarabani takes pace off and goes into the surface, outside off, Janith Liyanage hops to flay it away on the off side. The ball bounces over the blade.
47.4
4
Blessing Muzarabani to Janith Liyanage, FOUR! A boundary after a long time for Sri Lanka! Angled in at the toes, Janith Liyanage clears the front leg, takes it on the full and smears it behind square on the leg side. Ben Curran sprints to his right from deep square leg and dives but in vain.
47.3
1
Blessing Muzarabani to Charith Asalanka, Nails the yorker, on off, Charith digs it out in front of extra cover for a run.