The first ODI between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was called off due to persistent rain at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
Chasing 274 to win, the visitors got off to a terrible start, losing 2 wickets for just 5 runs courtesy of rising star Dilshan Madushanka. The left-armer bowled Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for a golden duck before finding a healthy edge of Craig Ervine for naught as well.
However, only 4 overs were possible in Zimbabwe’s chase as persistent rain brought a premature end to the game. The officials decided to call off the game at around 9.13pm local time.
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Earlier today, Janith Liyanage made his One Day International debut, becoming the 211th ODI player for Sri Lanka as the hosts elected to bat first after winning the toss on a fresh pitch.
Avishka Fernando and Skipper Kusal Mendis walked out to the middle as openers. Fernando’s stay at the crease was shortened to just 5 balls as left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava removed the latter in the very first over with no run on the board.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, who is in fantastic form since his ODI return last year, has been promoted to the No. 3 position as he played some scintillating strokes during a 63-run alliance with Mendis.
The former smashed 41 off 31 balls, which included 8 fours, before edging one to slip to become Ngarava’s 2nd victim, which brought the debutant Janith Liyanage to the crease.
Liyanage’s stay at the crease did not last long as one of two Zimbabwean debutants, Faraz Akram, dismissed him for 24. The Skipper looked really good for a fifty, but unfortunately ran out for a 46 courtesy of Sikanadar Raza’s direct hit.
Charith Asalanka was hanged there, and in the meantime, the islanders lost 3 wickets in quick succession, restricting them to 208/7. In the process, Asalanka went past the 50-run mark, becoming the first Sri Lankan batter to do so in the New Year of 2024.
Dushmantha Chameera joined Asalanka for the 8th wicket as the duo stitched together in a quick-fire 52-run stand off 42 balls, providing some finishing touches for the hosts. Blessing Muzarabani then broke that partnership, dismissing Chameera for 18.
Soon after, Asalanka notched up his 3rd ODI hundred in just 91 deliveries with a six over behind square leg in the same over. The stylish southpaw hit 101 off 95 balls, compiling 5 fours and 4 sixes before being run out in the final over of the innings.
The home side recovered well after being 208/7 in 42 overs as they ended up with a total of 273 runs for 9 wickets. On the bowling front, Ngarava was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe, picking up 2/38 in 6.4 overs before being walked off the field due to some fitness issues. Apart from him, debutant Akram and Muzarabani each snatched a couple of wickets as well.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avishka Fernando | c Richard Ngarava b Clive Madande | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | run out (Sikandar Raza) | 46 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 95.83 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | c Craig Ervine b Richard Ngarava | 41 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 132.26 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Sikandar Raza b Faraz Akram | 24 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 70.59 |
| Charith Asalanka | run out (Clive Madande) | 101 | 94 | 5 | 4 | 107.45 |
| Sahan Arachchige | c & b Faraz Akram | 11 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 45.83 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Ryan Burl b Blessing Muzarabani | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 42.11 |
| Mahesh Theekshana | b Sikandar Raza | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | c Ryan Burl b Blessing Muzarabani | 18 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 78.26 |
| Jeffery Vandersay | not out | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | not out | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 4 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 273/9 (50 Overs, RR: 5.46) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Ngarava | 6.4 | 1 | 39 | 2 | 6.09 | |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 10 | 1 | 62 | 2 | 6.20 | |
| Faraz Akram | 10 | 0 | 58 | 2 | 5.80 | |
| Tapiwa Mufudza | 10 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 3.70 | |
| Sikandar Raza | 10 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 4.10 | |
| Ryan Burl | 3.2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takudzwanashe Kaitano | not out | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 6.25 |
| Tinashe Kamunhukamwe | b Dilshan Madushanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Craig Ervine | c Sahan Arachchige b Dilshan Madushanka | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Milton Shumba | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | 9 (b 4 , lb 5 , nb 0, w 0, pen 0) |
| Total | 12/2 (4 Overs, RR: 3) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1.50 | |
