And Sri Lanka win it in style! Chamika anticipates the short ball, shuffles across the stumps and pulls this hard behind square on the leg side. Man on the boundary barely has time to move.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI at Kandy, SL v ZIM, Jan 16 2022 - Match Result
10.55pm And with that it's a wrap from me and Sunaadh. It's been a pleasure, join us again on Tuesday when Zimbabwe will be looking to level the series. Good night!
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka: "I should first of all thank the crowd who came here in numbers, it was great support. 296 is always a tough score, but our batters showed their class in the run chase. I'm also happy with our strength in depth."
Zimbabwe skipper Sean Williams: "Very disappointed. Thought the guys set the platform really well, but Sri Lanka bowled really well at the death and we were about 20-30 runs short. I also thought we missed our lengths and gave away a few too many four balls."
Chandimal: "I'm over the moon about my performance. Disappointed not to have stayed till the end though. I've goone through a lot of ups and downs, but you have to keep practicing hard and keep your fitness at a good level. That's what I've been focusing on and just trying to be the old Chandi - because the last few years haven't been good. I think he's back now and I'm looking forward to doing well in the next few matches as well."
10.45pm Dinesh Chandimal is Man of the Match for his 75 off 91 balls.
10.35pm Well Sri Lanka will be extremely pleased with that display. A string of partnerships meant they always had the chase under control, with a 127-ball 129 between Dinesh Chandimal and Charith Asalanka being the pick of the bunch. There were fifties for the pair as well, as well as for Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. The pitch was conducive for batting throughout, but Sri Lanka will be pleased that all their batters looked in such good nick.
As for the visitors, it was good but not good enough. Sean Williams scored his fifth ODI hundred, while Takudzwanashe Kaitano had a debut to remember. Indeed, the Zimbabwe batters in general did well to subdue the threat of the Lankan bowlers, but having set up an ideal platform they failed to capitalise in the death overs. When a score of 300 had seemed a minimum at one point, in the end it took them 10 runs off the final two deliveries of the innings to even get to 296. That seemed about 30 runs too short at the time, and so it proved. Then with the ball, they failed to ever really threaten the Lankan batters, who found proceedings all too easy, with dismissals generally batter error more than anything else.
Short and pulled past square leg, but there's a man on the boundary as well.
Back of a length and Chamika drops and runs. Good cricket.
Length ball on the stumps and worked on the onside for a single. That's all they need from here on out.
Sri Lanka need 5 from 12.
That was a great knock by Asalanka, he'll be disappointed not to have stayed till the end.
Length ball jagging back in and raps Asalanka on the pads. Big appeal, umpire has a long think and eventually gives him out. But it's being reviewed. And he's gone>! Umpire's Call on impact is enough.
Oof! Length on the stumps, and Asalanka added a few kilometres to this, my word! Flicks this behind square off the front foot, flat and far. What a hit.
Back of a length, defended on the offside and hares away for a quick single.
Short and Shanaka hops up and goes for the pull, but ends up flat batting it towards mid-off.
Goes for the premeditated paddle scoop, but it's the slower ball and outside off to boot.
Full and driven well, but straight to extra cover.
Short again, and this is pulled behind square. Backward square leg comes around to cut off the boundary.
Full, almost a yorker outside off. It's dug out by Asalanka to the left of mid-off.
Gets a hold of this though, but this time the pull finds square leg.
Goes for the pull and misses. There is a lot of space in front of square.
Lofts this beautifully over midwicket. It's over pitched on the stumps, Shanaka rolls his wrists and gets a great connection into the gap.
Back of a length outside off. Shanaka tries to dab this down to third man, but can't beat backward point.
Length outside off, plays this down to third man with soft hands. Beats a diving backward point.
Wide down leg, left alone by Shanaka.
21 needed off 25. It's the captain Dasun Shanaka that's the new man in. He'll want to see this off without any further blips.
And he's got him! Chandimal goes for the pull again, but it's straight to Craig Ervine at short midwicket, who takes a good low diving catch. Is there a lifeline here?
Back of length on the pads. Chandimal goes for the pull and misses. Raps him on the pads, but it's pitching outside and missing the stumps in any case.
1W |
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Zimbabwe, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2021/22 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Sri Lanka led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | ODI no. 4341 |
Match days | 16 January 2022 - daynight (50-over match) |
ODI debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Sri Lanka 10, Zimbabwe 0 |
Over 49 • SL 300/5
Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)