Tailenders Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay's unbeaten 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket helped Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by two wickets in the second ODI at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on January 8. Pacer Richard Ngarava's five-wicket haul went in vain as Janith Liyange scored 95 and held the fort while wickets were falling at the other end.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bat first. Dilshan Madushanka struck in the first over sending Tinashe Kamunhukamwe back to the pavillion for a golden duck. Joylord Gumbie and Ervine shared a 60-run partnership before Maheesh Theekshana got the breakthrough. Milton Shumba struggled to rotate strike easily and became Theekshana's second victim of the day. In the next over, Vadersay dismissed Sikander Raza for a single-digit score. In the same over, Ervine reached his half-century from 65 balls.
Ervine and Ryan Burl tried to push the scoring rate in the middle overs. Then Sadeera Smarawickrama took a stunning catch off Chameera's bowling to dismiss Ervine. He scored 82 runs from 102 balls including nine fours and a six. In his next over, he got the wicket of Burl as well. He scored 31 runs from 37 balls including a four and a six. Clive Madande failed to build on a decent start and fell to Vandersay in the 42nd over. Theekshana then trapped Faraz Akram in front of the wickets. In the same over, Blessing Muzarabani got run out. Zimbabwe got all out in the 45th over with Theekshana taking his fourth wicket. They managed to post 208 on the board.
Ngarava struck early in Sri Lanka's run chase. He dismissed Avisha Fernando lbw in the first over. In the next over, Kusal Mendis got a reprieve as he was bowled off a no-ball by Muzarabani. Ngarava in his second over got the wicket of Samarawickrama to push Sri Lanka on the back foot. Mendis and Liyanage got the innings back on track. Ngarava broke the partnership with the wicket of Mendis who scored 17 runs from 28 balls. Ngarava continued to hunt with the new ball as Charith Asalanka departed for a seven-ball duck.
In the 22nd over, a boundary came after a long wait of 71 balls. Raza tightened the screws and dismissed Sahan Arachchige. He scored 21 runs from 39 balls. In the 29th over, Liyanage reached his half-century from 85 balls. Raza did more damage with the wicket of Dasun Shanaka. After Shanaka's wicket, Liyanage started taking risks and hit Raza and Burl for one six each. Theekshana and Liyanage shared a crucial 56-run partnership.
Ngarava came back into the attack and got the breakthrough in the form of Theekshana. He scored 18 runs from 31 balls. In the next over, Muzarabani got the prized wicket of Liyanage. He scored 95 runs from 127 balls including six fours and a couple of sixes. Vandersay and Chameera batted with patience as the hosts inched closer to the target. It was in the 49th over they decided to finish the game. They needed 11 runs from 12 balls. Vandersay hit two boundaries to start with. On the last ball, Chameera hit a boundary to guide Sri Lanka to a narrow two-wicket win with an over to spare.
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