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Pathum Nissanka roared with a masterful century as Sri Lanka notched up an emphatic five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI to record a 2-0 series sweep. Pathum Nissanka's sublime 122 was the cornerstone of a challenging chase, as he guided his team to their target of 278 with remarkable composure and control, securing a thrilling five-wicket win. Displaying patience and quiet authority, Nissanka delivered a commanding innings precisely when his team needed it most.
Pathum Nissanka's century helps Sri Lanka trounce Zimbabwe by 5 wickets
Nissanka's performance was a textbook example of how to pace a run chase. He began with measured caution, reaching his half-century from 54 balls without taking unnecessary risks. As he settled in, his tempo and confidence grew, allowing him to accelerate towards a magnificent century off just 111 deliveries. His knock, studded with 16 precisely placed fours, was a perfect balance of rotating the strike and dispatching loose deliveries, ensuring the required run rate never spiraled out of control.
Despite Nissanka's anchor role, Sri Lanka's path to victory was fraught with challenges. The innings started on a precarious note with the early dismissals of Nuwanidu Fernando and Kusal Mendis. The turning point came when captain Charith Asalanka joined Nissanka at the crease. Asalanka provided the perfect counterpoint, playing an aggressive, fluent innings of 71 from 61 balls. Their decisive 90-run stand broke the back of the chase, and even after Nissanka's eventual departure, Asalanka calmly saw the team home with Janith Liyanage, sealing the win with three balls to spare.
Earlier, Zimbabwe had put up a commendable total of 277 for 7. Their innings was built around a confident 79 from Ben Curran, with valuable support from Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams. A late surge from Sikandar Raza, who finished with a brisk unbeaten 59, provided a strong finish. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Dushmantha Chameera's three wickets, did enough to keep the score within a manageable range. While Zimbabwean bowlers Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans claimed two wickets apiece, they were ultimately unable to quell the crucial partnerships that defined the Sri Lankan triumph.
Before heading for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, Sri Lanka will play a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting from September 3.
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