Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

J Liyanage
95(127) 6x4 - 2x6
Control %86%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 26 runs
  • 0x4 - 0x6
10 4 17 10 17 1 8 28
CR Ervine
CR Ervine
82(102) 9x4 - 1x6
Control %86%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 19 runs
  • 3x4 - 0x6
11 8 5 16 11 7 5 19

Best performances - Bowlers

R Ngarava
R Ngarava
O10
M3
R32
W5
Eco3.20
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
3W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
M Theekshana
M Theekshana
O9.4
M1
R31
W4
Eco3.20
RHB
OFFLEG
2W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W1W

Match Details

Toss

Zimbabwe , elected to bat first

Player Of The Match

Series result

Sri Lanka led the 3-match series 1-0

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

14.30 start, First Session 14.30-18.00, Interval 18.00-18.30, Second Session 18.30-22.00

Match days

08 January 2024 - day/night match (50-over match)

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: @himanshu_a30

END OF OVER:
49 | 13 Runs | SL: 211/8 | RR: 4.30

  • Dushmantha Chameera18 (25b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay19 (18b)
  • Faraz Akram10-0-43-0
  • Blessing Muzarabani10-0-41-1

That brings us to the end of the proceedings from this thrilling low-scorer. Who would have thought that chasing even 209 would turn out to be a task on what was supposed to be a batting-friendly pitch, and with rain around? But Ngrava's maiden five-for showed Zimbabwe the way, only for them to barely fall short. That's it from us tonight, as we bid you goodbye and good night. Take care!

Ran: "I am Sri Lankan , but feel for Ngarava as he bowled brilliantly. "

Kusal Mendis, the winning captain, speaks in Sinhalese, and says he isn't too happy with how Sri Lanka batted. But he's satisfied with Liyanage's performance, and wants to improve in the future.

Craig Ervine: "We batted reasonably well. We had a decent platform, but couldn't cash in at the back end. We thought 240-250 was a decent score. Losing so many wickets in the back end put us back. Credit to them. Richie took his maiden five-for... Had we taken the chances, it could have been a different story."

Janith Liyanage is the Player of the Match for his 95: "The ball was moving a bit when I went to the middle. I thought if I could stay till the end, we could win. It was a bit tricky because the wicket was on the slower side, and the pace varied a bit. [It was] a bit tacky. We were behind on DLS [when I got out], so I thought if we could get four more runs."

Time for the presentations

Ash: "Didn't expect such an interesting game. Pity, I couldn't see it live."

Zubair Islam: "A real nail-biter. Thank God I don't belong to SL or Zim, otherwise could have been very tense"

10.48pm A topsy-turvy game that is eventually decided by a ninth-wicket partnership of 39 in 41 balls. A terrific lower-order resistance from Liyanage, Chameera and Vandersay give the hosts a 1-0 series lead. Don't forget Theekshana's contribution too with the bat, adding to his four-wicket haul that restricted Zimbabwe to 208 in the afternoon. A match to remember for Ngarava for his maiden five-wicket haul, but unfortunately for him, not in a winning cause. A terrific ODI. Himanshu shall bring the presentations shortly.

48.6
4
Faraz Akram to Chameera, FOUR, straight as an arrow! Slot ball on off. Chameera clubs it straight back, forcing the umpire to duck, and that's four to end the match. Sri Lanka win by two wickets
48.5
1
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, 1 run, knee-high full toss. Flicked to deep midwicket. They settle for one.
48.4
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, overpitched around off. Toe-ends a drive to the off side

only three to win.

48.3
4
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, FOUR, full ball around off. Driven beautifully, through the covers! The ball skids along the wet-ish carpet, and that's four in front of square.

Robbin: "Who says ODI format is dead! Reminiscent of 1990s times"

Zubair Islam : "Those two overs by Burl n zim batting full quota of overs were big errors, though Zim might still sneak through "

48.2
4
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, FOUR, whattay! Length ball around off stump. Vandersay moves to the off side and manages to open up the leg side before paddling a shot over short fine leg! Risky with the infielder in the circle, but enough in that shot to clear it
48.1
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, length ball around off. Drive attempted but hits the top-half of his bat

Eleven to win in 12 balls, with SL slightly ahead on DLS too in case the rain gets heavier.

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4BKG MendisWIA Fernando
2nd12BKG MendisS Samarawickrama
3rd35BKG MendisJ Liyanage
4th2J LiyanageKIC Asalanka
5th37J LiyanageSSD Arachchige
6th22MD ShanakaJ Liyanage
7th56J LiyanageM Theekshana
8th4PVD ChameeraJ Liyanage
9th39JDF VandersayPVD Chameera