The 24 year old Kamil Mishara signaled his arrival as a potential finisher manning the pivotal No 3 slot striking a brilliant match winning unbeaten 73 off 43 balls filled with 6 boundaries and 3 sixes in marking a telling return since making a 3-match unsuccessful debut in 2022 in a reincarnated comeback posting an unfinished 117 third wicket bonding off 63 balls together with Kusal up Janith Perera a cameo 46 off 26 with 4 to the ropes and 2 over the top to riding out of a bad patch at long last as Sri Lanka crushed Zimbabwe by 8 wickets with 14 balls to spare in a 2-1 T20 series clinching triumph yesterday in a big chase.
Their effort dimmed Zimbabwe’s highest score pride in the format of 191 for the loss of 8 wickets off 20 overs at the Harare Sports Club Grounds yesterday.
Mishara and Perera carried it through folloeing a 58 pairing by Pathum Nissanka 33 and Kusal Mendis 30 for the first wicket as Sri Lanka avenged the previous game 80 second lowest score by in the format.
For a player who did not quite make the mark having debuted on February 20, 2022 against Australia in three appearances, it was a great comeback storm of Player of the Match high for the 24 year old Mishara who had since been tapping on the door for a call up on some fine domestic performances and the Sri Lanka A team.
Similarly, yesterday’s run appetite displayed by the 35 year old Kusal Janith Perera was a timely welcome knock for self and the Lankan camp with the T20 World Cup round the corner.
Zimbabwe’s innings after being put into bat revolved around Tadiwanshe Marumani’s 51 off 44 with 6 boundaries and a six with lesser contributions by Sikandar Raza 28, Ryan Burl 26, Sean Williams 23 and Tashinga Musekiwa 18.
Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the Lankan bowlers claiming 3 wickets for 38 runs with quick Dushmantha Chameera capping a superb comeback tour to being adjudged Player of the Series with a tally of 8 wickets.
Sri Lanka 193 for 2 (Mishara 73*, Perera 46*, Evans 1-28) beat Zimbabwe 191 for 8 (Marumani 51, Raza 28, Hemantha 3-38) by eight wickets