Kamindu Mendis displayed the element of his world standings of having matched Sir Donald Bradman to the fastest to 1000 runs in 13 innings last year as he defied the odds of getting Sri Lanka through a 46 off 24 balls charge bludgeoning an unbeaten 41 off 16 balls laced with 4 sixes and a boundary to a dramatic 4-wicket triumph with 5 balls to spare in the first of three T20s against Zimbabwe chasing a target of 176 to go 1-up yesterday at the Harare Sports Club Grounds.
The left-handed Mendis came all guns blazing following a mini collapse from 96 for 1 after the halfway mark to stuttering on 125 for 5 losing the top order cream in the wake of Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant 55 off 32 with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes as Kusal Janith Perera fell in quik succession for 4 to Ngarava, Nuwanidu Fernando for 7 to Muzarabani and the key wicket of skipper Charith Asalanka to Sikandar Raza who had him caught by Marumani for 6.
Kamindu Mendis opened up as Sri Lanka reched 142 for 6 after 17 overs when Dasun Shanaka fell for 6 to Brad Evans who had him caught by Munyonga before Dushan Hemantha joined Mendis in the victory charge on 14 off 9 with 2 boundaries.
Zimbabwe, put into bat, was on 22 for 1 when Dushmantha Chameera dismisse Tadiwanashe Marumani for 7 caught by Nuwanidu Fernando. Sri Lanka struck again reducing the hosts to 59 for 2 into 5.5 overs through Mahees Theekshana who trapped Sean Willims leg before wicket for 14.
But Brian Bennett revived the innings together with skipper Sikandar Raza adding 60 for the third wicket off 41 balls before Dushan Hemantha had the Zimbabwe captain caught by Pathum Nissanka with the total 109 after 12.4 overs.
The host team’s innings was more or less a one man show of Bennett’s remarkable 87 off 57 hitting 12 boundaries with the next best Raza’s 28. He was fifth out with the score 162 in the last ball of the 17th over bowled by Chameera who went on to mark his comeback with another 3-wicket take for 30 in his ten overs in the wake of his 3 wicket grab in the final ODI.
Chief Scores:
Zimbabwe 175/7 (20 Overs)
Brian Bennett 81, Sikandar Raza 28, Ryan Burl 17, Sean Williams 14, Tashinga Musekiwa 11, Dushmantha Chameera 3/30, Dushan Hemantha 1/28, Mahees Theekshana 1/38, Nuwan Thushara 1/47.
Sri Lanka 177/6 (19.1 Overs)
Pathum Nissanka 55, Kamindu Mendis n.o. 41, Kusal Mendis 38, Dushan Hemantha n.o. 14, Richard Ngarava 2/19, Sikandar Raza 1/26, Brad Evans 1/30, Blessing Muzarabani 1/41, Tinotenda Maposa 1/47.