Player of the Match
Player of the Match

So Sri Lanka start the T20Is with a win, as Zimbabwe once more fall short having got themselves into a winning position. Can they finally cross that hurdle? Well match number two is on Saturday. So be sure to join us for that. Till then, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of team, this is Madushka signing out!

Charith Asalanka: "I'm really happy about the performance and the results. Outstanding the way the boys played today. Little bit [of panic], yes, but credit to how Zimbabwe bowled and fielded. They were doing a great job in that period, but Kamindu played amazingly well. [Chameera?] To me he's the x-factor, he can bowl over 140ks and we missed him in the side over the last year."

Player of the match goes to Kamindu Mendis for his match-winning 41 off 16: "There were quick wickets in the middle so I thought trying to get five to six balls to get in and then finish the game. I had to hit boundaries, so I just kept calm and expressed myself. It was a good surface. Zimbabwe batted well as did we."

Sikandar Raza: I thought we were in the game for 19 overs, but it was one over that went for 20 odd that turned the game. These are the experiences the young boys need to have, but hopefully he nails his yorkers on another day. We knew the second innings could be tough to bat, but Kamindu played brilliantly. Unfortunately when we find ourselves in winning positions there's a panic, but I hope once we get some wins under the belt hopefully we'll start to close out more games going forward.

5.04pm Time then for the post match presentation...

Palinda: "Now that's a cameo " --- When the cameo steals the show.

Manu Gill: "This would be as heartbreaking for Zimbabweans as was the first ODI."

Quest: "Despite the result of this game, I don't see Zimbabwe not making into the T20 World Cup this time around. Missed them in the West Indies, and, with due respect to Uganda, Namibia, and all the other teams, Zimbabwe should definitely make it this time around."

Uwaisul Karnain: "Can't quite recall the last instance of when did a SL middle order batsman play a substantial innings like this. Perhaps Shanaka's onslaught against Australia?" --- Bhanuka in the Asia Cup also comes to mind, but Kamindu in this sort of form is a genuine asset.

4.55pm So true to how this series has been so far, the T20Is start with yet another rollercoaster game. One that was decided in the end by a blazing Kamindu Mendis 41 off 16. And Sri Lanka needed each and every one of those 41 runs, after they had collapsed from 96 for 1 to 125 for 5, and then 142 for 6. Pathum Nissanka (55 off 32) and Kusal Mendis (38 off 35) had given Sri Lanka the perfect start, scoring 96 in the first 10 overs, but a stunning middle order collapse courtesy some outstanding catching left them needing 34 off 18. But a 26-run 18th over turned the game decisively in Sri Lanka's favour, as Kamindu aided by debutant Hemantha saw their side home.

19.1
4
Muzarabani to Hemantha, FOUR, But no matter, Hemantha seals it with an exquisite cover drive! Full, wide and driven through that stacked offside field. Sri Lanka win by four wickets! They lead the series 1-0

So we go into the final over. 3 needed off six, Muzarabani to bowl. Is there something special remaining in this game? If there is, Zimbabwe have to do it with an extra fielder in the ring as they have been penalised for a slow over rate. All five fielders in the ring on the offside!

END OF OVER:
19 | 5 Runs | SL: 173/6 (3 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.10, RRR: 3.00)

  • Dushan Hemantha10 (8b)
  • Kamindu Mendis41 (16b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-19-2
  • Tinotenda Maposa4-0-47-1
18.6
1lb
Ngarava to Hemantha, 1 leg bye, short of a length, misses the pull but the ball drops at his feet and he runs the single
18.5
0
Ngarava to Hemantha, no run, Short ball, very well directed over the shoulder. Misses the hook

Kamindu says to Hemantha in Sinhalese: "try and hit a four."

18.4
1
Ngarava to PHKD Mendis, 1 run, full on the pads, chipped to deep midwicket for a single

Thushara: "Kamindu is MOTM?" --- Only if they win.

18.3
1
Ngarava to Hemantha, 1 run, yorker on off, dropped to Raza at short extra and they scurry for the single. Direct hit would have likely had Hemantha
18.2
0
Ngarava to Hemantha, no run, back of a length and wide outside off, play and a miss but just about inside the wide line

Rod: "There goes the game in one over, just like that! Cricket can be a cruel game"

18.1
2
Ngarava to Hemantha, 2 runs, Short of a length on off, pulled to cow corner for a couple

Talk about game changing overs, gotta feel for Maposa. Ngarava back to bowl his last, is there another twist?

END OF OVER:
18 | 26 Runs | SL: 168/6 (8 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.33, RRR: 4.00)

  • Kamindu Mendis40 (15b)
  • Dushan Hemantha7 (3b)
  • Tinotenda Maposa4-0-47-1
  • Brad Evans3-0-30-1
17.6
6
Maposa to PHKD Mendis, SIX, Six more! And now Sri Lanka surely have this in the bag! This was a low full toss on the pads from around the wicket, and Kamindu takes on the man at deep backward square. Flicks this so casually, but it's all timing, and all the way. 26 runs off the over!
17.5
1
Maposa to Hemantha, 1 run, full on the pads, whipped away behind square leg for a single
17.4
4
Maposa to Hemantha, FOUR, Picked up for four! This was short, but down leg and Hemantha helps it on its way. Fine enough to beat the man on the boundary too. 15 needed off 14 now

Farhan: "Bad call from Raza. He should have bowled with Muzarbani and Ngarva to kill the game in two overs" --- Maposa has been very good today though.

17.3
2
Maposa to Hemantha, 2 runs, short around off, pulled behind square. Early call for two and despite a little hesitation they come back for two

Hemantha on strike now, and he can have a go with the long handle if needed

17.2
1lb
Maposa to PHKD Mendis, 1 leg bye, Outstanding ball. Angled in full on the pads, yorker length. Unable to get it away as it deflects to the offside for a leg bye

free hit...

17.2
1w
Maposa to PHKD Mendis, 1 wide, Full and angled in, but it's down leg. Gonna have to bowl it again

Free hit incoming

17.2
7nb
Maposa to PHKD Mendis, (no ball) SIX, Huge runs for Sri Lanka! This was a beamer, well above waist high. But Kamindu has somehow managed to flick this over his shoulder and in fact all the way down to the fine leg boundary for six. Free hit coming to boot!
17.1
4
Maposa to PHKD Mendis, FOUR, Kamindu with a lap scoop! Takes the wide yorker, and just lifts this up and over the keeper. Runs away for four fine of short third

Dushan Hemantha comes out on debut. But he's at the non-striker's end

END OF OVER:
17 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 142/6 (34 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 11.33)

  • Kamindu Mendis24 (11b)
  • Brad Evans3-0-30-1
  • Blessing Muzarabani3-0-37-1
16.6
W
Evans to Shanaka, OUT, Unbelievable! I don't think I've ever seen something like this! Outrageous tag team catch! Shanaka looks to take on the deep midwicket boundary, but he doesn't time it. There are two fielders converging from deep square leg and deep midwicket. The latter has spilled it but the former reacts so, so fast to hold on to it on the rebound. Sri Lanka are six down!

MD Shanaka c Munyonga b Evans 6 (8m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100

16.5
2
Evans to Shanaka, 2 runs, full outside off, drilled hard to extra cover. Fields it well but not cleanly. They still manage to come back for two
16.4
0
Evans to Shanaka, no run, short of a length slower one, outside off. Swing and a miss
16.3
3
Evans to PHKD Mendis, 3 runs, full outside off, slapped hard to extra cover, and a misfield allows them to come back for third

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st96BKG MendisP Nissanka
2nd6MDKJ PereraBKG Mendis
3rd1BKG MendisMNK Fernando
4th3KIC AsalankaMNK Fernando
5th19PHKD MendisMNK Fernando
6th17MD ShanakaPHKD Mendis
7th35MADI HemanthaPHKD Mendis