169/1 (33.1)
CR : 5.10
165/10 (32.2)
CR : 5.10
Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Maheesh Theekshana
4/25
33.1
4
W Masakadza to P Nissanka
FOUR! Full toss here, Nissanka picks it up and slog sweeps it away over midwicket as the ball goes uppishly for one bounce and over the ropes. Nissanka gets his 2nd ODI hundred and leads Sri Lanka to a 9 wicket win over Zimbabwe with 16.5 overs to spare. With this win, Sri Lanka books a place in the World Cup 2023 in India.
2nd Hundred in ODI
The second ODI century for Pathum Nissanka.
SL won by 9 wickets
6:08 PM IST, 2:38 PM Local Time | Deepak: A comprehensive victory for Sri Lanka and now they are through to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Sri Lanka thumped Zimbabwe by 9 wickets with 16.5 overs to spare. A brilliant all-round performance from Sri Lanka to continue their winning streak.
In pursuit of Zimbabwe's paltry 165 runs, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne, displaying a cautious approach in the initial overs. They steadily built their innings and then shifted gears to score runs at a decent pace. The pair capitalized on loose deliveries, dispatching them to the boundary and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Despite the efforts of Zimbabwe's bowlers, Nissanka emerged as the more aggressive of the two openers. He played with confidence and authority, eventually reaching his 10th ODI half-century. Karunaratne, on the other hand, provided solid support and contributed valuable runs to the partnership.
Earlier, Maheesh Theekshana's 4 wickets helped bowl out Zimbabwe for 165 runs in 32.2 overs. Zimbabwe had a poor batting performance, losing early wickets and struggling to recover. Sean Williams scored 56 runs and was supported by Sikandar Raza with 31 runs. However, once both batsmen were dismissed, Zimbabwe's innings crumbled, and they were skittled for 165 runs. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took 3 wickets, while Theekshana claimed 4 wickets. Sri Lanka's bowlers were dominant, and Zimbabwe's innings fell apart.
In pursuit of Zimbabwe's paltry 165 runs, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne, displaying a cautious approach in the initial overs. They steadily built their innings and then shifted gears to score runs at a decent pace. The pair capitalized on loose deliveries, dispatching them to the boundary and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Despite the efforts of Zimbabwe's bowlers, Nissanka emerged as the more aggressive of the two openers. He played with confidence and authority, eventually reaching his 10th ODI half-century. Karunaratne, on the other hand, provided solid support and contributed valuable runs to the partnership.
Their partnership finally came to an end when Karunaratne's wicket was claimed by Ngarava. Karunaratne, meanwhile, had scored 30 runs before being dismissed. By the time the partnership was broken, Sri Lanka had already added 103 runs on the scoreboard.
Nissanka and Mendis formed a formidable partnership, taking control of the match and steering Sri Lanka towards victory. Nissanka, displaying his sublime form, played with confidence and aggression throughout his innings. He remained unbeaten until the end, sealing the game with a boundary and completing his well-deserved second ODI century, while Mendis supported him from the other end and remained unbeaten on 25 runs.
On the bowling front, Zimbabwe bowlers faced tough competition today and failed to defend a paltry total. Richard Ngarava only managed to extract a wicket. Stay tuned for the post-match presentations..
Nissanka and Mendis formed a formidable partnership, taking control of the match and steering Sri Lanka towards victory. Nissanka, displaying his sublime form, played with confidence and aggression throughout his innings. He remained unbeaten until the end, sealing the game with a boundary and completing his well-deserved second ODI century, while Mendis supported him from the other end and remained unbeaten on 25 runs.
On the bowling front, Zimbabwe bowlers faced tough competition today and failed to defend a paltry total. Richard Ngarava only managed to extract a wicket. Stay tuned for the post-match presentations..
Maheesh Theekshana has been awarded the Player of the Match.
Maheesh Theekshana (Player of the Match): "We had good plans. After 10 overs we did not execute the plans. I came back and had a chat with Dasun and changed the field and got wickets by bowling wicket to wicket. Because we lost Lahiru, I knew I had to bowl in the powerplay. Dilshan got early wickets. Sean and Sikandar batted well and then I came back well with the ball and got the wickets. This will boost our confidence to qualify for India. We are here to win all the games and we have two games remaining. The aim will be to win both the games that we have remaining. We will not take the foot off the pedal. Thank you very much."
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe Captain): "Yes, I thought it was always going to be challenging first 10 overs. Some soft dismissals set us back and we were under the pump. Theekshana is a veteran for Sri Lanka. The partnership between Sean and Raza brought us back in the game but Theekshana ripped us apart and we never really recovered from those collapses. We don't have to prepare any differently. The preparations should remain the same for us like the other games. We were prepared but I think Sri Lanka were better than us in this tournament. Thank You very much."
Dashun Shanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "See coming for Qualifiers it's always tough. Some of the team gave us tough competition but still, we are a good side. Madushanka has been outstanding. This bunch of players, they've got their own skills and utilize the conditions well here.
Knowing our strengths is the key to success. We stick to our basics very well whatever the conditions we got. Yeah, we play one step at a time and we don't take the opposition lightly.
It's a big achievement. What we have done in the past in World Cups, it's must needed for SL to appear on the big stage. World Cup ahead is the main focus for us. Waiting to deliver there as well."
Knowing our strengths is the key to success. We stick to our basics very well whatever the conditions we got. Yeah, we play one step at a time and we don't take the opposition lightly.
It's a big achievement. What we have done in the past in World Cups, it's must needed for SL to appear on the big stage. World Cup ahead is the main focus for us. Waiting to deliver there as well."
That's a wrap from our side as well. Sri Lanka have secured their place in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, leaving just one remaining spot to be filled. The identity of the team that will claim the second spot in the Cricket World Cup 2023 will be revealed in the days to come.
For now, this is Deepak Prakash signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee, and scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. CHEERS!
For now, this is Deepak Prakash signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee, and scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. CHEERS!