SL WON
ODI
SL beat ZIM by 5 wickets
Man of the Match - Dinesh Chandimal
ZIM
296-9
50.0/50 Ovrs
 
300-5
48.3/50 Ovrs
SL
Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, 3 ODI Series, 2022 |1st ODI |1/16/2022
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Commentary
  • So that is all we have from this match, Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in this 3-match series. The second ODI will be played on 18th January at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT). Do join us for the same. Till then, Adios!
  • Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of Sri Lanka, starts by thanking the crowd who came to support. Says the chase was a big one but his batters showed maturity and chased it down. Tells that chasing a big total becomes a concern when you are one batter short but they will work on it in the next game.
  • Craig Ervine, the skipper of Zimbabwe says that they are disappointed to not come with a win. Adds that their batters did well but still feels like they were 10-20 runs short. Tells that they just need to bowl in tight areas.
  • Dinesh Chandimal is the Man of the Match, he says that he is over the moon about his performance but would have loved to finish off the game. He states that there has been up and down in his career and adds that thankfully things are working for him now.  He says that he is trying to be old Chandimal and he used to play like this when he was young and he is happy with his cricket now.
  • ... The Presentation ...
  • Earlier in the day, it was the openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Regis Chakabva who gave a good start for Zimbabwe but it was William's century that boosted them to 296. At one stage it looked like a defendable one but their bowlers were not on the mark. Stay tuned for the presentation. 
  • It felt like Zimbabwe were missing an experienced bowler. They used 8 different bowlers but most were part-time. There was never a phase where Zimbabwe held tightly and showed some threat. They did found wickets at regular intervals but the next batter came in and build the partnership with ease. Only Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava showed menace and bowled with some intent but other than that it was a tiring day for the bowlers. A bad toss to win one reckon for Zimbabwe.
  • The pitch was flat and easy to play on as the game progressed. Sri Lanka did not have any major hiccups to chase this huge target. A quite cozy one. It was their openers who gave them a solid start. Kusal Mendis was playing so beautifully but fell through. Nissanka stayed though with Chandimal and together both build a partnership of 66. Nissanka was all set to continue but perished and then Charith Asalanka  joined and stitched a partnership with Chandimal. One thing Sri Lanka did well was they did not hasten and took their time to settle in. There was once a period where the boundaries dried up but the singles were coming along nicely and that made Lanka's job easier.
  • The Hosts kick off the series with a win as they go 1-0 up quite comfortably. Zimbabwe will feel they were a bowler short or the ones they had needed to put some pressure on the batters as it was an easy chase in the end.
  • 48.4
    1nb and boundary
    Blessing Muzarabani to Chamika Karunaratne, NO BALL! FOUR! Chamika Karunaratne finishes the chase in style! A shorter length delivery around middle and leg by Blessing Muzarabani. Chamika Karunaratne stays deep in his crease and pulls it strongly towards backward square leg for a boundary. Blessing Muzarabani has overstepped too but it anyways doesn't matter. Sri Lanka win by five wickets!
  • 48.3
    1
    Blessing Muzarabani to Dasun Shanaka, A short ball and Dasun Shanaka pulls it to fine leg for a single.
  • 48.2
    1
    Blessing Muzarabani to Chamika Karunaratne, Back of a length around leg. Chamika Karunaratne tucks it square on the leg side for a single.
  • 48.1
    1
    Blessing Muzarabani to Dasun Shanaka, On a length, on middle. Dasun Shanaka works it behind square on the on side for a single.
  • END OF OVER 48 | 7 Runs & 1 Wkt | SL 292/5
  • Chamika Karunaratne comes in.
  • Review! Charith Asalanka take the review after been given LBW. No bat involved there. Ball Tracker shows umpire's call on impact and the wickets were hitting. 
  • 47.6
    W
    Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, OUT! LBW! Charith Asalanka departs and Richard Ngarava gets another one. Charith Asalanka will be disappointed that he could not finish the chase but it has been an entertaining innings from the young man. Back of a length around off and angling into the batter. Charith Asalanka looks to work it towards the on side but misses. The ball hits his pads and there is a huge appeal. The umpire raises his finger and Charith Asalanka reviews it. The Ball Tracker shows that it is umpire's call on impact and it is hitting the stumps. So Charith Asalanka has to walk back and Sri Lanka are five down now but with just five runs needed.
  • 47.5
    6
    Richard Ngarava to Charith Asalanka, SIX! SHOT!  Richard Ngarava serves this short on middle. Charith Asalanka is already hanging on the back foot as he is expecting a short ball. He pulls it over deep square leg for a biggie.
  • 47.4
    1
    Richard Ngarava to Dasun Shanaka, A length ball, on off. Dasun Shanaka defends it with soft hands towards the off side for a single.
  • 47.3
    0
    Richard Ngarava to Dasun Shanaka, Back of a length, around off. Dasun Shanaka rides the bounce and pushes it to mid off.
  • 47.2
    0
    Richard Ngarava to Dasun Shanaka, A length ball, outside off and angling across at 131 kph. Dasun Shanaka tries a paddle-scoop but misses. The ball goes through to the keeper.
  • 47.1
    0
    Richard Ngarava to Dasun Shanaka, Richard Ngarava bowls a full ball on off. Dasun Shanaka drives it to covers.
  • END OF OVER 47 | 7 Runs & 0 Wkt | SL 285/4
  • 46.6
    1
    Tendai Chatara to Dasun Shanaka, A short delivery on middle. Dasun Shanaka firmly pulls it to fine leg for a single. Just 12 needed now from 18 balls.
  • 46.5
    1
    Tendai Chatara to Charith Asalanka, A fuller delivery on off. Charith Asalanka digs it out to long off for a single.