adminMELBOURNE. – Sri Lanka registered a convincing 33-run win over Zimbabwe in their first warm-up game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 held today (11th October) at the MCG here yesterday.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first on a batting friendly Melbourne surface.
Sri Lanka’s regular T20I opening pair Mendis and Nissanka provided a blistering start to the innings adding 57 runs in 5.1 overs before the latter was dismissed after making 21 runs off 15 balls with 4 fours.
Mendis went onto score 54 runs which came off 29 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 186.20.
After an excellent start, Sri Lanka lost momentum in the middle as they lost 3 quick wickets for 32 runs. Dhananjaya De Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunathilake all got starts with 17 runs each but couldn’t convert into big ones.
However, Wanindu Hasaranga who came to bat at No. 7, played a vital cameo, scoring a quick fire 37 runs off 14 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 264.28, helping Sri Lanka post a massive 188/5 in the allotted 20 overs.
After a heroic effort with the bat, Sri Lanka’s start with the ball wasn’t impressive as they conceded 54 runs in the first six overs, picking up only one wicket.
But, the Sri Lankan bowlers managed to pull things back taking 3 quick wickets for 20 runs, pushing the Zimbabwe batters onto the backfoot at 81/4.
Zimbabwe No. 3 batter Wesley Madhevere and No. 6 batter Milton Shumba tried to rescue their innings building a 51-run partnership for the 5th wicket but it wasn’t enough for them to cross over
the line as the Sri Lankan bowlers kept putting pressure on the rest of the batters, bowling tight lines and lengths.
Maheesh Theekshana and seamer Chamika Karunaratne starred with the ball taking 2 wickets each for the islanders.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka – 188/5 (20) Kusal Mendis 54, Wanindu Hasaranga 37*, Pathum Nissanka 21
Zimbabwe – 155/5 (20) Wesley Madhevere 43, Milton Shumba 32, Craig Ervine 23, Regis Chakabva 20, Maheesh Theekshana 2/39, Chamika Karunaratne 2/26 – the papare.com
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter