The Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe ODI series saw a host of ‘firsts’ as the visitors surprised one and all to take the 5 game series 3-2. Here are some of the landmark records set during the series.
Zimbabwe became the first team to successfully chase 300 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, though having a rich history of hosting nearly 300 ODIs, had never seen a score of 300+ chased down on its shores. Zimbabwe broke the hodoo in the the 296th game hosted by Sri Lanka and 33rd attempt at a 300+ target in the island.
The Zimbabweans did it with ease too, making 322/4 in 47.4 overs after being set a target of 318. Opening batsman Solomon Mire starred with the bat with a memorable maiden century as he guided his country to a thrilling win over the much fancied hosts at the Galle Intenational Stadium.
Zimbabwe’s first win against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in any format
Prior to this series, Zimbabwe had never beaten Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in any format of the game, now they have not one but 3 wins on Sri Lankan shores.
The teams had played 50 ODIs between each other before the start of the five match ODI series. The Islanders have lost 7 matches away from home and won 41 overall, quite clearly the more dominant of the two teams and as such were not expected to lose a game on home soil. The story is much the same in the Test arena where Sri Lanka has won 12 of the 17 games between the sides, with the other 5 ending as draws. It has been one way traffic in the shortest format of the game as well with Sri Lanka recording 3 wins in as many games in T20Is.
Wanindu Hasaraga became the first leg-spinner to take a Hat-trick in ODIs
Anil Kumble, Shane Warne and Mushtaq Ahamed are known to be masters of Leg-spin bowling, but it was the 19 year old Wanindu Hasaranga, who went on to record the 1st hat-trick in ODI cricket by a legspinner, that too on his debut.
He bowled Malcolm Waller, then trapped Donald Tiripano right in-front with a unplayable Googly and then snuck through Tendai Chatara’s defenses with another wrong ‘un. Hasaranga is the 1st Sri Lanka to claim a hattrick on ODI debut and the third bowler overall to do so (the others being Kagiso Rabada and Taijul Islam), making his achievements even more remarkable.
Dickwella and Gunathilaka become first pair to share back to back 200-run partnerships in ODIs
Sri Lanka’s new opening pair, left handers Niroshan Dickwella and Dhanushka Gunatilaka put on 229 for the opening stand as they went on to make their maiden tons in the 3rd ODI in Hambantota, which Sri Lanka went on to win by 8 wickets. Two days later they came out all guns blazing in the 4th ODI to register yet another 200 run stand at the same venue and went down as the first pair to put on a 200-run partnership for any wicket in consecutive ODIs. Unfortunately for the pair, Sri Lanka ended up losing the game.
Zimbabwe’s first series win against Sri Lanka
The teams had played 7 Test and 4 ODI series prior to the most recently concluded series, with Sri Lanka managing to sweep the table before they were outplayed in their own backyard in the 5 match series 3-2. Zimbabwe came into the series as the 11th ranked ODI team and were able create history by winning their 1st ever series against the islanders under the captaincy of Graham Cremer.
