SL vs ZIM, 2nd T20I: Zimbabwe secures dramatic four-wicket win to level series 1-1

Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the second Twenty20 International on Tuesday (January 16) at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With the win, they have levelled the three-match series at 1-1. After being selected to bat first, Sri Lanka managed to score a respectable 173/6 in 20 overs. Their top-order crumbled on the powerplay, leaving them in a perilous situation at 27/4 after 4.4 overs.

Sri Lanka were selected to bat first, and the home team scored an impressive 173 thanks to a brilliant 69 from Charith Asalanka and a solid 66* from Angelo Mathews after being reduced to 27 for 4.

The pair produced an amazing recovery, adding 118 for the fifth wicket to get their team out of early difficulties. The Lankans finished the innings with a flourish. Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe both took two for Zimbabwe, but they were pricey. Angelo Mathews (66) and Charith Asalanka (69) saved them with a 118-run stand for the fifth wicket. The duo’s efforts helped them post a solid first innings total.

Zimbabwe opener Craig Ervine then scored a magnificent 70 (54 runs) to build the groundwork for his team’s chase.

Zimbabwe’s Luke Jongwe, who scored 25 off 12 balls with two fours and two sixes, was awarded man of the match. He had also taken two wickets with the ball, but it was his punchy big hitting in the tense last over that helped Zimbabwe win.

Zimbabwe suffered an early blow with the death of Tinashe Kamunhukamwe. However, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett’s combination proved important, scoring 74 runs for the second wicket and building a solid basis for the chase. Although Bennett left after scoring 25, Ervine maintained his excellent performance, finishing with a strong 70. Luke Jongwe (25* off 12) and Clive Madande (15* off 5) made quick, devastating cameos late in the innings.

Sri Lankan bowlers fought back, reducing the opposing team to 154/6 after 19 overs. With 20 runs needed from the last over, Sri Lanka held the advantage when skipper Wanindu Hasaranga entrusted Angelo Mathews to bowl. Luke Jongwe smashed a six on the opening pitch, which was also a no-ball. He then struck two fours and a dot before getting a single when Maheesh Theekshan lost his catch. Clive Madande finished the match in style by hitting a six-over deep midwicket on the fifth ball of the twentieth over.

Sikandar Raza: “Like I said in the last game, these are group of boys that will turn this ship around. These are the group of boys that have made a promise to the country and to the fans. And if you’d ask me, I’d rather win two games – the first we got really close – but today was really unbelievable. I don’t think it slipped, we knew the wicket was going to get better, that there was a bit of moisture and that the first 6-7 overs would be tough. Even when we came back to the changing room, I wasn’t angry. I just said they have the momentum, but they haven’t got too many runs and it’s not like we can’t win the game. This was a par score. The wicket got really good, but they played some good shots as well. The whole squad was calm, we didn’t want to get it this close but I always say a close game is good for the fans.”

Wanindu Hasaranga: “Yeah but the top order should take more responsibility as I said last time out as well. Angie and Charith played brilliantly though. No Angelo has done it before, I trust him and so I gave it to him.”

Luke Jongwe, Player of the Match: “I don’t think I even have the words to explain how I’m feeling. I’m just grateful to my teammates, and we’ve just been playing really hard to get that win out of the way. For the past three months or so I’ve been in similar situations but couldn’t take the team home, I’m just glad and thank God that I was able to do it today.”

• First Innings
• Sri Lanka Score – 173/6 in 20.0 overs
• Sri Lanka batting performance
• Charith Asalanka 69(39)
• Angelo Mathews 66(51)
• Zimbabwe bowling performance
• Blessing Muzarabani 4-36-2
• Luke Jongwe 2-32-2
• Second Innings
• Zimbabwe Score – 178/6 in 19.5 overs
• Zimbabwe batting performance
• Craig Ervine 70(54)
• Luke Jongwe 25(12)
• Sri Lanka bowling performance
  
• Maheesh Theekshana 4-25-2
  
• Dushmantha Chameera 4-30-2