When the Zimbabwe Cricket Team arrived in Sri Lanka to play a 5 game ODI Series and a one off Test Match, not many gave them a chance of competing with Sri Lanka on equal terms. This was mainly due to Zimbabwe having lost a home series to Sri Lanka who had sent a depleted Team for the series.
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In the first ODI Match played in Galle, Sri Lanka batted first and after a partnership of 115 runs for the 2nd wicket between Danushka Gunathileke and Kusal Mendis were able to muster only 316 for 5 wickets as the Sri Lankan middle order failed to capitalize on this start. Zimbabwe in their turn lost two early wickets but a fierce counter-attack by opening batsman Solomon Mire, who scored a century in 84 balls , well supported by Sean Williams 65 and Sikandar Raza 67 not out enabled Zimbabwe to get over the line by 4 wickets. A feature of Zimbabwe’s batting was the use of the orthodox sweep and the reverse sweep which the Sri Lankan bowlers were unable to contend with. Sri Lanka’s fielding was sloppy with a few catches being dropped and some misfields, which made the task of the opposition easier. Thus, Zimbabwe drew first blood in the Series giving them the much needed confidence to compete with Sri Lanka for the rest of the series.
The second ODI was also played at the Galle Stadium and Sri Lanka decided to ask Zimbabwe to take first strike. This time around Sri Lanka bowled tight lines and lengths and put the Zimbabwe batsmen under pressure, to dismiss them for 155 runs in 33 overs. Spinners Sandakan and debutant Hasaranga were outstanding, picking up 4 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. Hasaranga had the distinction of taking a hat-trick on debut. Sri Lanka scored the required runs in 30 overs with Upul Tharanga being the main scorer with 75 not out. Sri Lanka had struck back tellingly to nullify the defeat in the first ODI.
The Third ODI shifted to the Mahinda Rajapakshe Stadium in Hambantota and Sri Lanka winning the toss invited Zimbabwe to take first lease of the wicket. Zimbabwe got off to a good start after the fall of the first wicket at 39, when Masakadza and Musakanda were associated in a partnership of 125 runs but were unable to capitalise and were only able to post a total of 310 in 50 overs. Hasaranga and Gunarathna were the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets a piece. Sri Lanka in their turn got off to a dream start when the openers recorded a partnership of 229, with Dickwella scoring 102 and Gunathilaka scoring 116. This partnership made it easy for the batsmen who followed to overhaul the total for the loss of 2 wickets in 47 overs. With this victory Sri Lanka had stamped it’s authority on the Zimbabwe side.
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The fourth ODI also played at the same venue in Hambantota was a must win game for Zimbabwe in order to keep their hopes alive in the series. For Sri Lanka, a win would have sealed the series in their favour. Sri Lanka in winning the toss decided to bat first quite contrary to the pattern in earlier matches, where the side winning the toss invited the opposition to bat first. Once again, Sri Lanka were given a great start of 209 runs by the openers, with Dickwella scoring 116 and Gunathileka 87 runs. The second 200 run partnership in consecutive games by these two openers established a record in ODI Cricket. Here again as in the first ODI at Galle, the Sri Lankan middle order failed to capitalise on the solid start given by Dickwella and Gunathileka and were able to score only 300 runs in 50 overs, when a score of around 330 -340 could have been possible. Zimbabwe chasing this target were progressing well and were 9 runs ahead on the Duckworth & Lewis calculations when play was halted after the 21st over due to rain. When play resumed, Zimbabwe were left with a revised target of 219 runs in 31 overs, which meant that they had to score 80 runs in the 10 overs that remained. They were able to get the required runs with an over to spare with Ervine making a calculated innings.
In the Fifth ODI at Hambantota, where both Teams had everything to play for in order to clinch the Series, Zimbabwe won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. Here the Zimbabwe Captain made an astute decision to bowl Sikander Raza, an off spinner at the left handed opening pair of Dickwella and Gunathileka which had an unsettling effect on the Sri Lankan batting. This enabled them to pick up wickets at regular intervals and had Sri Lanka tottering at 153 for 8 wickets. When it looked like Sri Lanka were going to be bowled out for a score of less than 175 runs, Asela Gunaratne and Chameera had an unbroken partnership of 50 runs when the Sri Lankan innings ended on 203 for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Gunaratne should be given credit for the manner in which he steered the Sri Lankan innings, giving them some hope of bowling Zimbabwe out, considering that the wicket was conducive to spin bowling. Zimbabwe looked like achieving the target very easily when the opening pair of Masakadza and Mire gave them a brisk start of 92 runs. Wickets started to tumble after the fall of the first wicket and they too were in deep trouble with 7 wickets falling for 175 runs. Raza and skipper Cremer held their nerve in a partnership of 29 runs to enable Zimbabwe to record a historic Series win against Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe’s gain, Sri Lanka’s pain – A tour explained
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Zimbabwe had improved their ability to withstand pressure and was amply rewarded for playing some good and fearless cricket during the series. Sri Lanka paid the price of not taking the initiative when in a position of strength while batting and was unable to put Zimbabwe under pressure. I read some press reports where the Sri Lankan Team was lambasted for losing this series. It must be kept in mind that sport is played for entertainment and there is no shame for losing in sport, if the losing Team has gone down with a fight. Zimbabwe should be given credit as they too are striving to make an impact in the International Cricket scene. On the other hand the Sri Lankan Team should be encouraged to improve in areas which were found wanting in this series, so that they would be in a better position to compete with the Indians who are due to tour Sri Lanka shortly.
