Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe continued their three-game ODI series by facing off in the series decider. Both sides took centre stage at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, January 11. The sides came into the clash with all to play for as the first ODI was abandoned, with Sri Lanka winning the second ODI.
The clash began with Zimbabwe coming in to bat first after winning the toss; however, things did not go as planned for the visitors. Joylord Gumbie opened the innings with a knock of 29 runs, with Takudzwanashe Kaitano scoring 17 runs in 24 deliveries.
However, the rest of the batters could not amount to much, as Sri Lanka’s bowling attack proved to be too much to handle. Luke Jongwe added 14 runs to his name, with Wellington Masakadza scoring 11 runs as Zimbabwe posted a total of 96 runs in the first innings. As for Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasranga put in a performance of a lifetime, taking seven brilliant wickets and conceding 19 runs in 5.5 overs. Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Janith Liyanage took one wicket each as well.
Kusal Mendis’ class saw Sri Lanka clinch first ODI win
Aiming to chase down a target of 97 runs, Sri Lanka got off to a subpar start as opener Avishka Fernando was sent packing for a duck. Shevon Daniel added 12 runs on the board, but it was the knock of skipper Kusal Mendis that propelled the side to a brilliant win.
Playing an unbeaten knock of 66 runs in 51 deliveries, the skipper was accompanied by Sadeera Samarawickrama, who scored 14* runs in 17 deliveries. Their knocks helped Sri Lanka score 97 runs in 16.4 overs and win the game by eight wickets. As for Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza were the only wicket takers with one wicket each, but their spells were not enough to propel the side to a win.
Here are the best Tweets from SL versus ZIM game:
Sri Lanka Wins 🇱🇰#SriLanka won the 3rd ODI cricket match against Zimbabwe by 8 wickets.
ZIM 96
SL 97/2
Kusal Mendis 66*
W Hasaranga 19/7 #LKA #SLvZIM pic.twitter.com/w9sdtJ8BXG
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) January 11, 2024
Sri Lanka wrap up series victory with a big win 🙌#SLvZIM 📝: https://t.co/Vh5COWW9W4 pic.twitter.com/WTgMf396D5
— ICC (@ICC) January 11, 2024
QG Blood 💜🙌
The fifth-best bowling figures in men’s ODIs 🔥
What a performance by Wanindu Hasaranga! #SLvZIM 📝: https://t.co/aHNaYfThUD pic.twitter.com/UYQmk181hq
— A-B Roonjho (GLADIATOR 💜) (@LasiBakhsh51281) January 11, 2024
Best bowling by a Sri Lankan in ODIs:
Chaminda Vaas – 8/19 vs ZIM 🇿🇼 (2001)
Wanindu Hasaranga – 7/19 vs ZIM 🇿🇼 (2023)*
Muttiah Muralitharan – 7/30 vs IND 🇮🇳 (2000)#SLvsZIM
— Saino 🕵️♂️ (@DecodedFantasy) January 11, 2024
Endhi, Ball 3D lo tirugutunda??
𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐈 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐒𝐑𝐈 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐎!! 🌶️🔥
7 Wickets for mana 𝐒𝐑𝐈 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐆𝐀𝐃𝐔!! 😉😉#SLvsZIM #WaninduHasaranga #GunturKaaramOnJan12th #GunturKaaram pic.twitter.com/mQTXa5SO41
— ORANGE ARMY (@SUNRISERSU) January 11, 2024
🔥 Madness on the cricket field!
Wanindu Hasaranga returns from injury and takes the game by storm with mind-blowing bowling figures of 7/19 against Zimbabwe!
🤯🏏 Pure domination!#CricketMadness #HasarangaReturns pic.twitter.com/DR0y0dESDS
— Hasnain (@Hasnain8079) January 11, 2024
👏🇱🇰 *Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga* captures *7* wickets for 19 runs vs 🇿🇼 *Zimbabwe* in the 3rd *ODI* 🏏
#SLvsZim #RCB #IPL #CricketTwitter #Hasranga
— Rajesh (@rajp3006) January 11, 2024
Joylord Gumbie☝️
Takudzwanashe Kaitano☝️
Craig Ervine ☝️
Milton Shumba☝️
Clive Madande☝️
Wellington Masakadza☝️
Blessing Muzarabani☝️
A magical come-back spell from Wanindu Hasaranga🙌 pic.twitter.com/pPTUr299B2
— Aftab Khan 18 (@AftabKhan182) January 11, 2024
Makes a comeback to international cricket after nearly a year, achieving his career-best ODI figures 7-19. Hats off to Wanindu Hasaranga! 🙌 #SLvZIM #ญี่ปุ่นว๊านหวาน #BitcoinETF #zarcia #Earthquake #INDvsAFG #OPPOReno11Launch #hasaranga pic.twitter.com/9JDKh49Yi0
— Rao Jahanzaib (@RaoJahanzaib19) January 11, 2024
Wanindu Hasaranga take 7 wickets against Zimbabwe, He is megical spell#SLvsZIM #AFGvsIND #NZvsPAK pic.twitter.com/uFMx0gmRSE
— Cricket Lovers (@zohaib_mayo786) January 11, 2024
Twitter Reactions: Zimbabwe avoid Bangla whitewash after comprehensive win in fifth T20I
Twitter Reactions: Bangladesh edge out valiant Zimbabwe in another nailbiter to extend winning run
Twitter Reactions: India Women continue their winning streak in fifth T20I as they complete clean sweep over Bangladesh Women
Twitter Reactions: Bangladesh go 3-0 up despite valiant fightback by Zimbabwe
