Tailenders deny Zimbabwe after Ngarava maiden fifer

Zimbabwe – 208 all out in 44.4 overs (Craig Ervine 82, Ryan Burl 31, Joylord Gumbie 30; Maheesh Theekshana 4/31, Dushmantha Chameera 2/44, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/47)

Sri Lanka – 211-8 in 49 overs (Janith Liyanage 95, Sahan Arachchige 21, Jeffrey Vandersay 19*; Richard Ngarava 5/32, Sikandar Raza 2/32, Blessing Muzarabani 1/41)

Sri Lanka gained by two wickets

Richard Ngarava picked up his maiden five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe put up a daring battle in an try and defend a below-par whole, however Sri Lanka’s tail-enders held their nerve to assist their crew to a two-wicket victory, with one over in hand, in an exhilarating end to the second one-day worldwide match in Colombo on Monday.

This time around the vacationers gained the toss and selected to bat first.

They suffered an early setback after they misplaced Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, caught by the wicket-keeper down the leg aspect, to the third ball of the innings, with solely a single on the board.

Craig Ervine then got here in and survived a barely shaky begin, whereas Joylord Gumbie performed a great constructive innings on the different finish.

Between them they took the rating to 61 earlier than Gumbie was bowled out by the off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana for 30.

Milton Shumba, in subsequent, additionally proved a great accomplice for Ervine, they usually added 53 collectively earlier than Shumba popped up a catch to midwicket to depart for 26.

The often Swiss-watch-reliable Sikandar Raza scored solely a single earlier than he slashed a catch to 3rd man off the surface fringe of his bat.

Ryan Burl was the subsequent batsman, and he performed effectively in partnership with Ervine because the rating mounted.

At 182 for 4 within the thirty seventh over, Zimbabwe gave the impression to be able to launch a full assault on the bowlers to convey them a great rating, however at this level the wheels fell off their innings.

Ervine fell to an excellent diving catch by Sadeera Samarawickrama at backward level for 82, having confronted 102 balls and hit a six and 9 fours.

Two overs later, Burl was bowled out by a brief ball from Dushmantha Chameera that jagged in sharply and reasonably low, having made 31 off 37 balls.

Clive Madande and Faraz Akram got here collectively and took the rating previous 200, however then each have been out to leg earlier than wicket (lbw) selections in successive deliveries, having scored 14 and one respectively.

Two balls later, Blessing Muzarabani was run out on account of a mix-up to make it three wickets down in 4 deliveries – 202 for 9.

The final pair of Richard Ngarava and Tapiwa Mufudza managed so as to add six runs within the subsequent two overs earlier than Theekshana bowled out the latter and Zimbabwe have been dismissed for 208 in 44.4 overs.

The final 4 wickets had fallen for six runs and the final six wickets for 26 runs.

Theekshana completed as the most effective Sri Lankan bowler with 4 wickets for 31 runs.

Zimbabwe had the encouragement of an early strike when Sri Lanka batted, as Avishka Fernando hit Ngarava for 4, however was caught on the wicket off the fifth ball of this the primary over.

Ngarava did the trick once more in his subsequent over, as Samarawickrama (4) hit out reasonably recklessly and was caught by Ervine within the slips – 16 for 2.

These setbacks compelled the Sri Lankans to chill down and play a safer sport for some time.

Steadily, Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage started to construct the innings, however after 13 overs it began raining and the gamers needed to depart the sector.

The rating at this level was 49 for 2, with Mendis on 16 and Liyanage 22.

The break lasted almost an hour, however no overs have been misplaced from the unique 50.

The rain proved to be Zimbabwe’s buddy, as quickly after the resumption Ngarava struck once more, twice.

First, Mendis reduce a ball uppishly to be caught by Burl for 17, after which the century-maker of the primary match, Charith Asalanka, additionally hit equally, fatally, to be caught by Gumbie on the wicket with out scoring.

With their opponents now 53 for 4 wickets after 16 overs, and with two inexperienced batters in Liyanage and Sahan Arachchige on the crease, Zimbabwe have been proper again within the sport.

The dangerous information was that Ngarava had solely three overs left to bowl, and Ervine determined to maintain these in reserve for later.

The 2 Sri Lankan batters fought arduous and took the rating to 90, when Arachchige was trapped lbw by Raza for 21 within the twenty seventh over.

Liyanage was now Sri Lanka’s fundamental hope, and he moved previous his fifty and the overall previous 100.

Dasun Shanaka made seven earlier than he was effectively caught on the wicket by Gumbie off Raza – 112 for six within the thirty first over.

Then a difficult partnership developed between Liyanage and Theekshana, who settled in collectively and took 23 off two overs from Burl, taking the rating to 150.

Because the partnership developed Ervine introduced again Ngarava, and he did the trick in his remaining over, having Theekshana caught within the covers for 18 to make the rating 168 for seven within the forty second over.

Ngarava might not bowl, however he might catch, and this he did as Liyanage lastly made a damning error, lofting a drive off Muzarabani into Ngarava’s secure arms at mid-off.

Liyanage’s tremendous innings thus ended for 95 – he confronted 127 balls and hit two sixes and 6 fours, with the rating now 172 for eight within the forty third over.

Zimbabwe now wanted solely to take away the 2 tail-enders to finish their victory.

Nonetheless, Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay stored their heads, knuckled down and commenced to gather runs steadily.

After 47 overs that they had taken the rating to 195 for eight, with 14 runs wanted from the final three overs and rain beginning to fall.

Three runs, together with a no-ball, got here off Muzarabani’s remaining over, leaving Sri Lanka needing 11 off two.

Akram bowled the forty ninth over, and it was throughout for Zimbabwe.

Vandersay hit two fours and a single, and Chameera hit the ultimate supply for the successful 4.

It had been a gallant battle by Chameera and Vandersay, who completed not out with 18 and 19 respectively.

Ngarava’s tremendous bowling introduced him 5 wickets for 32 runs, whereas Raza additionally did a great job with two for 32.

Sri Lanka now lead the three-match collection by one victory to nil, after the primary ODI was washed out on Saturday.

The third and remaining match is scheduled to be performed on Thursday.

The video beneath is the Zimbabwe ODI Squad for Tour of Sri Lanka 2024