Sri Lanka suffered their second worst defeat in T20 history bundled out by Zimbabwe for 80 runs in 17.4 overs in what was their second lowest T20 total with the hosts winning by 5 wickets with 34 balls to spare to level the 3 match series in atoning for a defeatist sheet against the Lankans in the ongoing tour having lost the 2-match ODI series and the first of three T20s at the Harare Sports Club grounds yesterday.
But the Lankan bowlers fought tooth and nail in reducing Zimbabwe to 5 for 61 after 11.2 overs led by fast bowler Dushmanha who reaped his third back to back 3-wicket haul accounting for the first three Zimbabwe wickets to fall at a cost of 19 runs with one each by Binura Fernando and Mahees Theekshana before Rya Burl 20 off 22 with 2 boundaries and Tashinga Musekiwa 21 off 14 with 3 boundaries stood it out to the victory line.
The shock defeat for 6th placed Sri Lanka in the ICC Team rankings to last placed Zimbabwe was a bad blow to their T20 World Cup campaign and must serve as a lesson to get the house in the right order in the run up to the world mega event.
Contrastingly, for a downtrodden Zimbabwe the victory was a huge morale booster to a flagging image of a nation that has played faultless cricket in the ongoing tour against the Sri Lankans having given them a run for their money in a lost trail which they overcame at long last by this win. Skipper Sikandar Raza who took the Player of the Match award by a 3 for 11 haul though Ziimbabwe’s most dependant batsman against the Lankans with two ODI half centuries during the tour could manage just two runs in the chase that overcame the early scares of 2 for 20 after 3.4 overs as Dushmantha Chameera made a double strike in the space of two balls having Tadiwanshe Marumani caught behind by Kusal Mendis for 17 and caught and bowled Sean Williams for a second ball duck. They declined to 3 for 27 after 5.4 when Sikandar Raza was bowled by Chameera for 2, but Brian Bennett saw his side past the 50 mark being fourth out with the score 53 after 9.3. Tony Munyyounga followed eight runs later leg before to Theekshana before the Burl-Musekiwa resistance swung it Ziimbabwe’s way.
It was a pathetic outlook of a strong Lankan side with an out of form Kusal Janith Perera replaced by Kamil Mishara who turned out with the highest score of 20, and in form quick Asitha Fernando rested for Binura Fernando, come apart before a side that had taken a bad beating at the hands of the likes of Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis and skipper Charith Asalanka who this time around were not among the runs. Asalanka 18 and Dasun Shanaka 13 were the only other batters to reach double figures as the Raza led hosts attack was on song with Brad Evans 3 for 15 and Blessing Muzarbani 2 for 14.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka 80 17.4 (Overs)
Kamil Mishara 20, Charith Asalanka 18, Dasun Shanaka 13,Sikandar Raza 3/11, Brad Evans 3/15, Blessing Muzarabani 2/14, Sean Williams 1/17.
Ziimbabwe 84/5 (14.2 Overs)
Tashinga Musekiwa n.o. 21, Ryan Bul n.o. 20, Brain Bennett 19, Tadiwanashe Marumani 17, Dushmantha Chameera 3/19, Binura Fernando 1/14, Mahees Theekshana 1/28.