• Lanka struggle against minnows

Dushmantha Chameera probably would have felt like the luckiest man alive when he came to bat in the last two deliveries of the game to score a boundary off the first ball, hitting right behind the wicket-keeper as he took the game to be decided on the very last ball. However it was Angelo Mathews’ day as he rewrote history after scoring a match-winning 46 runs off 38 deliveries in his T20 International comeback after a hiatus of three years, as Sri Lanka secured a three-wicket win against Zimbabwe on Sunday (14) at the Khettarama R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in the three-match series opener. 

Debutant skipper Wanindu Hasaranga won the toss for Sri Lanka and invited Zimbabwe to take the first lease of the wicket. Skipper Sikandar Raza’s top score – 62 off 42 deliveries – set a decent score for the visiting side with Hasaranga and Theekshana putting on a versatile bowling performance, bagging two wickets each to restrict Zimbabwe to 144 for 5. Dushmantha Chameera took the other wicket. The visiting skipper had a wonderful outing, getting three wickets for 13 runs, scalping some big Sri Lankan wickets in an almost match-winning stint.

A seven-wicket hero from the last ODI game, Wanindu Hasaranga led Sri Lanka in his maiden stint as T20 captain yesterday (14) after being officially appointed recently to lead the national unit in this format. Pathum Nissanka, who missed the ODI series, joined the outfit after recovering from dengue. Nuwan Thushara a.k.a. “Malinga clone” who made headlines for his IPL bid also featured for the Lankans.

For the visitors, Sikandar Raza took the leadership mantle after Craig Ervine led the ODI outfit.

Thankfully rains kept away from the game; the previous three-match ODI series saw rain spoiling all the games with the opening match washed out. 

Chasing a tricky target of 145, opener Pathum Nissanka had to go back to the dressing room in a disastrous start for the hosts after being caught for just two runs. Sri Lanka has had a questionable start even during the ODI series. The two Kusals – Mendis and Perera – scored 17 runs apiece. Sadeera Samarawickrama failed to live up to expectations after being dismissed for just nine. Charith Asalanka banked 16. Skipper Hasaranga had a day to forget in the batting department after getting clean bowled by his counterpart Sikandar Raza. 

Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at the end of the 14th over, having lost six wickets for 83. Mathews along with ex-skipper Dasun Shanaka put on a memorable 55-run partnership to pave the way by giving glimpses of hope for the massive crowd at the stadium – a sight to savour for ages at a time when crowds were dwindling at the venues. The last over in the final showdown saw 14 runs required off six balls.

Unfortunately, Mathews was caught when Sri Lanka required six off two in the last gasp. However, Dushmantha Chameera rose to the occasion with gusto to take the home side to a victorious end. This win means that Sri Lanka has had a 100% win rate against Zimbabwe. 

Here’s a key highlight from the Player of the Match, Angelo Mathews:

“I felt like I was playing my debut. I wasn’t trying to prove anything to anyone. It was just another opportunity for me to try and do the job for my team and country.”

Next matches – 16 and 18 January at 7 p.m. at RPICS