Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
A BRILLIANT bowling performance from Zimbabwe, inspired by a man-of-the-match performance by skipper Sikandar Raza, ensured the hosts not only levelled this Twenty20 cricket international but also set the stage for a potentially thrilling series decider at the Harare Sports Club this afternoon.
Once the Chevrons bowled out Sri Lanka for 80 in 17 overs, pressure piled on the hosts’ batters to do their part and level the series.
And set a very manageable total of 81 to secure victory, the batters lived up to expectation and did their part, posting 84/5 to seal a five-wicket victory that sent a decent and drum-beating crowd at the Harare Sports Club into delirium.
There have not been such commanding wins from the Chevrons for nearly two years and, on the back of their confident showing, a full house is expected at the Harare Sports Club to back the hosts to a possible series triumph.
But the Chevrons would have to learn to kill off matches when opportunities present themselves.
This is because Zimbabwe are slowly developing a penchant for always doing things the hard way.
That was the story of the day again as the Chevrons put on quite the shift with the ball but struggled to cross the finish line on their way to the five-wicket victory.
The win levelled the series between the two sides to one win apiece and set up what promises to be a tantalising decider in the three-match T20 series this afternoon.
Zimbabwe went into the match with an unchanged side, while Sri Lanka, although winners in the first match, tweaked their side a little bit.
Left-handed batter Kamil Mishara replaced the more-experienced Kusal Perera, while left-arm seamer Binura Fernando came in for Nuwan Thushara, who was possibly deemed expensive in the first T20 match.
The changes looked to backfire from the onset as Raza won the toss and put in Sri Lanka to bat.
The Chevrons then put up a superb all-round bowling and fielding effort to skittle out Sri Lanka for 80 runs from 17.1 overs.
It was the Asians’ second lowest T20 total ever and their lowest against Zimbabwe.
Raza and seamer Brad Evans led from the front with the ball as the duo claimed three scalps apiece, while Blessing Muzarabani and Sean Williams chipped with two and a wicket, respectively.
The visitors found the batting difficult as only three batters managed to make double-digit figures, with Kamil Mishara top-scoring with 20 runs, while skipper Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka chipped in with 18 and 15 runs in that order.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Sri Lanka unable to put up any solid partnerships, the pick of them being a sixth-wicket stand between Asalanka and Shanaka that went for 26 runs off 37 balls.
With 81 runs the target, an easy Zimbabwe victory was guaranteed.
So, it seemed.
While Zimbabwe did manage to cross the line and record only their second victory over Sri Lanka, there was hardly anything to write home about regarding the Chevrons’ batting.
Wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani continued with his bad patch as the 23-year-old could only score 17 runs before he top-edged a Dushmantha Chameera delivery into the safe hands of Kusal Mendis behind the stumps.
Marumani had just shared a run-a-ball 20 runs first-wicket partnership with fellow opener Brain Bennett and looked to be cruising to victory.
Chameera turned out to be Zimbabwe’s chief tormentor as the seamer also accounted for the wickets of Williams (0) and Raza (2), who he both bowled out.
Zimbabwe would lose two more wickets as Bennet (19) was caught and bowled by Binura Fernando, while Tony Manyonga (3) was trapped leg-before-wicket by Maheesh Theekshana to leave the Chevrons struggling at 61 runs for five.
Luckily, the 81-run target was within sight and it took an unbroken 23 runs off 18 balls by Ryan Burl and Tashinga Musekiwa for the sixth wicket to help Zimbabwe cross the line.
Musekiwa top-scored for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 21 runs off 14 balls, while Burl was close by with his own unbeaten 20 runs off 22 balls.
Chameera was the Sri Lankan’s pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 19 runs, while Theekshana and Fernando chipped in with one wicket apiece.
After the match, Raza was clearly a relieved man as he finally led Zimbabwe to a win.
“The good thing about playing good cricket is that cricket rewards you back,” said the Zimbabwe skipper.
“We have been playing good cricket. We were a bit upset with the losses because we got close in the previous three games.
“However, we didn’t panic.
“Hopefully, this win will give us belief.
“The good thing is this environment is that we believe in the players’ abilities.
“Anyone can have a bad day (as Blessing did in the previous game) but he came back today (yesterday).
“We have got to be even better in the next game.
“We deserve to win a series because we have been playing quality cricket,” said Raza.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said that the visitors were punished for their poor start to their innings and match.
“We lost too many wickets in the powerplay,” said Asalanka.
“That’s not the start we wanted.
“When I went to bat, I thought it was a 130-140 pitch but, in this format 80 runs, is not enough,” he said.
