BULAWAYO: A medical bowling efficiency backed by an unbeaten 101 from Pathum Nissanka helped Sri Lanka register a nine-wicket win within the Tremendous Six conflict in opposition to Zimbabwe and in addition confirmed their spot on the ODI World Cup in India later this 12 months. The win was arrange by the bowlers, as they orchestrated a batting collapse on both aspect of a 68-run partnership between Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza consigning Zimbabwe to their first loss on the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier.
Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowling in opposition to the Zimbabwe top-order was the play of the day in a conflict billed to be between one of the best batting group and one of the best bowling group of the event. Dilshan Madushanka razed by the highest order to go away Zimbabwe reeling inside seven overs.
Madushanka replaces injured Chameera in Sri Lanka squad: The left-arm fast, enjoying solely his second sport of the competitors after being introduced in as a substitute for the injured Dushmantha Chameera, had the batters in bother with the motion in addition to change in lengths. He struck in his first over when he had wicketkeeper-batter Joylord Gumbie caught flicking at quick midwicket. He then shocked Wessly Madhevere with a pointy bumper that had him top-edging a pull to mid-off.
In his fourth over of the spell, Madushanka had Craig Ervine poke at a full ball that straightened after pitching exterior off as Zimbabwe discovered themselves at 30 for three within the seventh over. He may have had Williams caught at lengthy leg, however Matheesha Pathirana, introduced in for the injured Lahuru Kumara, dropped a easy probability.
Maheesh Theekshana picked up for wickets to rattle Zimbabwe: Maheesh Theekshana picked up for wickets to rattle ZimbabweoICC/Getty Pictures
Whereas Raza bought himself going with a wonderfully timed sq. drive, he and Williams have been completely happy to bide their time as they bought their eye in. They have been partly helped by a wayward Pathirana, who bowled seven wides in his first two overs. Raza and Williams then used their toes to place Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga off their lengths. Williams first slog-swept Dhananjaya by midwicket earlier than cover-driving Hasaranga within the subsequent over. Raza greeted Hasaranga with a pulled six over midwicket earlier than charging right down to belt Dhananjaya over his head.
Nevertheless, Dasun Shanaka broke the stand when he had Raza swipe throughout the road off a brief ball, just for Madushanka to drag off a diving catch at lengthy leg. Williams quickly introduced up his fifth fifty-plus rating within the competitors earlier than Maheesh Theekshana bought into his act.
Theekshana first went by Williams’ defences earlier than repeating the drill in opposition to Ryan Burl within the subsequent over. He then had Luke Jongwe lbw earlier than trapping the final batter Blessing Muzarabani to sign the tip of the innings. Pathirana in the meantime cleaned up Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava to keep up Sri Lanka’s report of dismissing every of their opponents within the Qualifier for beneath 200.
Chasing 166, Dimuth Karunaratne was given an youth when Evans shelled him at quick midwicket off Ngarava. Thereon, he and Pathum Nissanka killed the chase with a 103-run stand for the opening wicket. Nissanka exhibited supreme strokeplay after taking his time to get set. He performed three aesthetically pleasing strokes of an Evans over to alter gears.
Nissanka hit 14 fours in his unconquered 102-ball knock to notch up his second ODI century and set Sri Lanka India-bound with near 17 overs within the financial institution.
Sri Lanka’s final sport within the event is in opposition to West Indies, whereas Zimbabwe will subsequent face Scotland of their remaining Tremendous Six sport with the winner assuring themselves of a spot on the ten-team World Cup in India.