Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka ended Zimbabwe's winning streak in year 2023 to confirm their berth in ODI World Cup 2023 later this year in India. After getting all out for 165, Zimbabwe bowlers did not have enough firepower to pose a challenge. Pathum Nissanka starred with an unbeaten 101-run knock as Sri Lanka won the Super Sixes encounter by nine wickets with 101 balls to spare.
Shanaka won the toss and opted to field first. Dilshan Madushanka struck in the first over to get Joylord Gumbie for a five-ball duck. In his next over, Madushanka got the wicket of Wesley Madhevere. Craig Ervine hit a few boundaries but became Madushanka’s third victim of the day with the new ball. Skipper Sean Williams got an early reprieve in the ninth over as Matheesha Pathirana dropped an easy catch. Sikandar Raza was cautious at the start as Zimbabwe lost three early wickets. Shanaka broke the partnership in the 20th over. He scored 31 runs from 51 balls including three fours and one six.
Ryan Burl launched a counter-attack as soon as he took the field. Burl smashed Dhananjaya de Silva for three sixes in an over. In the next over, Williams got to her half-century from 48 balls. But Williams could not carry on and got bowled by Maheesh Theekshana. Burl's cameo ended in Theekshana's next over as he could not pick the carrom ball. Theekshana's 'you miss, I hit' approach continued to work and Luke Jongwe got out lbw.
Pathirana was brought back into the wicket and he got wickets of Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava. Theekshana ended Zimbabwe's innings in the 33rd over as tailender Blessing Muzarabani got out bowled for a two-ball duck. Theekshana completed his fifer as Zimbabwe got out for 165 in 32.2 overs. Sri Lanka’s bowling has been clinical in the Qualifiers. They have not let any side play the full 50 overs.
Sri Lanka's run chase got off to a good start. Dimuth Karunaratne was cautious whereas Nissanka scored freely. Nissanka got to his half-century from 49 deliveries. Ngarava broke the partnership in the 20th over. He scored 30 runs from 56 balls including two fours. The openers shared a 103-run partnership. The wicket turned out to be a consolation prize. Nissanka ended the run chase with a boundary to get to his second ODI ton. He scored 101 runs from 102 balls including 14 fours.
“What we have done in the past in World Cups, its must needed for SL to appear on the big stage. World Cup ahead is the main focus for us. Waiting to deliver there as well,” Shanaka said in the post-match presentation.
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