Dickwella-Gunathilaka maiden centuries bury Zimbabwe

Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka slammed their maiden ODI centuries as Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third ODI match in Sooriyawewa, Hambanthota on Thursday.

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Sri Lanka chased down 300+ score for the first time in their own backyard, 10th instance throughout the history as they surpassed Zimbabwe’s score of 310/8 with 2 overs to spare.

Zimbabwe opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza slammed 15 fours and one six during his 98-ball 111, his 5th century in the 16-year career to propel the visitors to a commanding score before Dickwella and Gunathilaka put on 229-run opening stand to put Sri Lanka ahead by 2-1 in the five-match series.  

Chasing 311 runs to win, Dickwellla started off the chase with a glorious boundary through the off-side. Former Trinity College captain played a few delicate strokes through the covers, reverse-swept with ease, glanced beautifully and pulled ferociously.

Dickwella was dropped on 64 by Musakanda, celebrated his ton on 99 due to an error in the giant score-board but deservedly reached the milestone with a small push to the leg-side. With the damage already done, Dickwella after scoring 14 elegant boundaries holed out to square-leg while trying to sweep off-spinner Malcolm Waller.

Gunathilaka was more of the aggressor in the partnership as he pummeled the lackluster Zimbabwean bowling attack to all parts of the ground on a belter of a pitch. He smashed 15 fours and a huge six over deep square leg.

Gunathilaka reached his milestone with a boundary when he dispatched Solomon Mire to the fance. He was dropped by Carl Mumba at deep long-on but chopped one onto the stumps in the very next ball.

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After both the openers fell with 74 runs more to victory, Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis took Sri Lanka over the line with an unbroken third-wicket stand in 63 balls with former scoring the winning runs off a boundary.

Earlier, Sri Lanka decided to bowl first and picked the same side which won the second ODI while the Zimbabweans made two changes. The visitors started off excellently with the openers adding 39 runs through elegant strokes. Nuwan Pradeep struck in the 8th over when he trapped Solomon Mire LBW for 13 with a delivery which angled in perfectly.

Tarisai Musakanda who was one of the two changes Zimbabwe made for this game played the second fiddle to Masakadza as they pulverized the Lankan bowlers for the second wicket constructing a 127-run stand by scoring over 6 runs per over.

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With a half-century in sight, Musakanda fell for 48 trying to hit into the wind as he holed out to deep long-on. Masakadza played it smartly using the wind, to collect more than 70% of his runs in-front of the wicket. He stood back and punched the loose deliveries while also coming down the track to loft over the bowler’s head. Masakadza who reached the hundred off 83 balls used the reverse-sweep and sweep cleverly until one of his regulation sweeps off Wanindu Hasaranga found Nuwan Pradeep at deep square leg.

Young Hasaranga who claimed a hat-trick on debut then trapped Craig Ervine plumb in front as Sri Lanka looked to crawl their way back into the game. Pradeep limped off the field due to a stiff thigh without bowling his final 4 overs and after the game, Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed to ThePapare.com that he is ‘fine’.

Sean Williams anchored the final phase of the Zimbabwe innings with a fine 47-ball 43 with 2 fours before becoming Gunarathne’s second victim. Malcolm Waller was caught plumb in front by Malinga who looked a bit out of touch, leaking 71 runs off his 9 overs including 17 runs in the final over as Sikandar Raza and Peter Moor made some useful cameos at the end.

The fourth ODI match will be played at the same venue on 8th July (Saturday).

Man of the Match – Danushka Gunathilaka

Full Scorecard