Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Chevrons’ quest of reaching the final of the Tri-Series suffered a major blow following a nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in their last round robin match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, yesterday.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are now both tied on two points, however, the Lions have a game to spare, against the hosts Pakistan on Thursday.
The Chevrons’ fate now lies in the Thursday game. Zimbabwe have a better net run rate than that of Sri Lanka and despite the heavy defeat yesterday, they remain in second place. Both teams are tied on two points with the Chevrons’ net run-rate being 0,522 while Sri Lanka are on -1,324.
For Zimbabwe to qualify for Saturday’s final, they need Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka. A win for Sri Lanka against Pakistan will take them to the final.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe finally won the toss and elected to bat first. They made one change to the team that played their previous match, with Dion Myers coming in for Tony Munyonga. The Chevrons were restricted to 146/5 in their 20 overs with Sri Lanka comfortably chasing down the target in 16,2 overs, finishing on 148/1.
Zimbabwe had a poor start with the bat, losing Tadiwanashe Marumani for four runs in three balls in the first over before Myers departed for six runs in the third over with the Chevrons now on 17/2. There was then a 36 runs third wicket partnership between Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor before the latter was bowled for 14 runs, bringing in Sikandar Raza into the middle.
Bennett then fell in the most unfortunate manner, 34 runs off 26 balls. The skipper, Raza was caught for 37 runs off 29 balls while Ryan Burl remained undefeated on 37 runs from 24 balls. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana picked up two wickets each for Sri Lanka while Dasun Shanaka got one.
Sri Lanka got off to a brilliant start with the bat, with their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara putting up a 59 runs opening wicket stand, broken in the sixth over by Bradley Evans. Evans had Mishara caught for 12 runs by Wellington Masakadza.
At the halfway stage of the chase, Sri Lanka were on 85/1, needing 62 runs from 60 balls. Nissanka was a class above the Zimbabwean batters, scoring a brilliant unbeaten 98 runs off 58 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.
He had an unbeaten 89 runs second wicket partnership with Kusal Mendis who scored 25 runs off as many deliveries. Nissanka finished things off with a six off a Richard Ngarava delivery.
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