Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

Sikandar Raza
Sikandar Raza
92(87) 8x4 - 0x6
Control %78%
  • Productive Shot
  • cover drive
  • 14 runs
  • 1x4 - 0x6
13 8 9 2 14 10 13 23
P Nissanka
76(92) 12x4 - 0x6
Control %80%
  • Productive Shot
  • cut shot
  • 22 runs
  • 4x4 - 0x6
10 10 4 16 22 1 7 6

Best performances - Bowlers

D Madushanka
D Madushanka
O10
M0
R62
W4
Eco6.2
RHB
OFFLEG
2W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
AM Fernando
AM Fernando
O10
M0
R50
W3
Eco5
RHB
OFFLEG
2W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W

Scorer: Chetan Kumar | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya

END OF OVER:
50 | 2 Runs 3 Wkts | ZIM: 291/8 (8 runs required, RR: 5.82)

  • Tony Munyonga43 (52b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani1 (1b)
  • Dilshan Madushanka10-0-62-4
  • Asitha Fernando10-0-50-3

And with that our coverage comes to an end, after a game that began as a slow burn, but escalated dramatically at the death. An ideal start to this series, join us for the next game on Sunday. But for now, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of the team, this is goodbye!

Charith Asalanka: It was an amazing game of cricket. The death bowling was amazing at the end. [missed the fifth bowler?] Not really, that's the line up we're looking at going forward. When we look at another allrounder, sometimes we have a lack of batting. We want 7 batters and 3 allrounders, but the thing is the allrounders have to bowl well. [Final partnership?] They set the platform for us, we were in trouble once I got out. Amazing partnership, congratulations to them."

Player of the Match goes to Dilshan Madushanka for that phenomenal final over: "Long time since I've been with the team, so just very happy to do this on my comeback. Very happy that we executed our collective plans at the death."

Sean Williams: "I think the powerplay was unbelievable for us, all chances were taken and everything went according to plan. Just towards the backend of the innings - bad decision on my part - and the one over cost us the game. [bowlers?] They've been unbelievable for us, setting the tone at the top of the innings, setting an example for the youngsters as well, they [Ngarava and Muzarabani] have been class. [299 target?] We lost two quick wickets and Ben and myself just decided to be a little proactive. We had time to get in and play a few shots, and it worked out quite well. Ben actually was striking the ball better than me, it was more on the lines of getting in the line of the ball and accessing the 100% strike rate with the single on offer. By doing that the boundary will come. He was really, really good. [Munyonga handling the pressure?] I think his character off the field speaks volume about how he handled that situation. Fitness wise, a lot of twos on offer, it's a very difficult area of the game to play in. They nailed the yorkers though."

Time for the post-match presentation.

Akindu : "Heart attack brigade strikes again"

Johann: "Is the C-word appropriate?At 17 needed from 12 balls, it was Zimbabwe's game to lose!" --- definitely a disservice to the efforts from both sets of players, Johann.

5.48pm Well. What a game of a cricket. Narratives galore, from the early Nissanka-Kusal rebuild to the late onslaught from Liyanage and Kamindu, and then to Asitha's two early strikes before Williams and Curran clawed the game back. And then - seemingly the final twist - an outrageous 128-run 6th wicket stand between Raza and Munyonga. A partnership that was paced nearly to perfection and should have won the hosts the game. But with 10 needed off the final over, Madushanka who had been kept to the last almost out of necessity than any grand design, takes out Raza on the way to a memorable hattrick, and eventually steering his team to victory. This was genuinely a game that had it all, and now we can all breathe.

49.6
1
Madushanka to Munyonga, 1 run, length ball outside off, swung away high and over mid-off running back. The ball falls safe but it's Sri Lanka that celebrate - they have snuck through by 7 runs!

PK: "This is the danger of not giving it some serious welly in the 45-49 overs. "

49.5
0
Madushanka to Munyonga, no run, Wide yorker, misses and Sri Lanka are home free!

Boundary needed here, and nothing else.

Odinlass : "Hahahaha! My word! This is outrageous!"

49.4
1
Madushanka to Muzarabani, 1 run, full outside off, swings this and connects well. Down to long-on. Munyonga of course not coming back for the second
49.3
W
Madushanka to Ngarava, OUT, Hattrick for Madushanka! Talk about your redemption arcs, a forgettable day is fast becoming one to be etched in stone! This was quick and straight and Ngarava had no choice but to swing at it. Too good for him though, far too good

R Ngarava b Madushanka 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Ashraf: "what have u done @Hayes???"

Akindu: "Madushanka YOU BEAUTY!!! clutch play to move the odds toward SL. "

Nuur: "...And that is the problem with one man shows. When that one man is gone, show is over"

49.2
W
Madushanka to Evans, OUT, Two in two! Full outside off, looks for the scoop but it can't clear short fine who peddles back and holds on smartly! Harare is silenced.

B Evans c AM Fernando b Madushanka 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Alan: "Finally a jinx worked"

abhi : "Had to jinx him Hayes"

49.1
W
Madushanka to Sikandar Raza, OUT, Oh my word, he's crushed middle stump! Big gaps on the onside and Raza moves across looking to sweep this for four. But this a yorker on the base of middle stump. And quick. Raza has to trudge of desolately

Sikandar Raza b Madushanka 92 (130m 87b 8x4 0x6) SR: 105.74

10 needed from 6, will it be a moment of redemption for Madushanka?

Hayes: "I hope by year's end we see this Raza innings highlighted as one of the innings of the year. Absolute masterclass. Very reminiscent of Mike Hussey."

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0BJ CurranBJ Bennett
2nd0BRM TaylorBJ Curran
3rd118SC WilliamsBJ Curran
4th22Sikandar RazaBJ Curran
5th21Sikandar RazaW Madhevere
6th128Sikandar RazaT Munyonga
7th0B EvansT Munyonga
8th0R NgaravaT Munyonga
9th2B MuzarabaniT Munyonga