Before Asalanka stole the whole show, it was left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava and Zimbabwe’s spinners who impressed in this match. Ngarava operated on that nagging off-stump channel and, with the new ball, accounted for Avishka Fernando for a duck and Sadeera Samarawickrama for 41.
Offspinner Tapiwa Mufudza – the highest wicket-taker in Zimbabwe’s recent Pro50 tournament – found their turn through the afternoon to finish his ten-over spell with none for 37 on his ODI debut. Sikandar Raza got an arm ball to bowl Theekshana and also controlled the middle overs as he claimed 1 for 41. Raza’s direct hit to run Kusal Mendis out for 46 was also crucial in pegging Sri Lanka back on a surface that promised big runs at the start.
Blessing Muzarabani produced a strong spell to finish with 2 for 62, using his height to hurry Sri Lanka’s lower-order batters and add the dots. Faraz Akram, on ODI debut too, was wayward with his medium-pace, but sent back fellow debutant Janith Liyanage (24) and Sahan Arachchige (11) against the run of play to ensure Sri Lanka never ran away with the game.
With many of Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggling to cope with the conditions, Ryan Burl was used as a fill-in, but his 3.2 overs went for 32, with Asalanka pouncing on the opportunities at the death before being run out in the last over looking to get back on strike.
The second ODI will be played at the same venue on Monday.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe: Rain washes out first ODI after SL score 273/9
Rain put an early finish to Sri Lanka’s opening one-day match against Zimbabwe on Saturday, with Zimbabwe struggling on 12-2 after four overs when the downpour hit. Play was called off at 9:00 pm local time (1330 GMT) after left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka dismissed opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for a first-ball duck.
Madushanka, who was sold for $553,000 to Mumbai Indians in December’s IPL auction, claimed a second wicket in the same over when he had captain Craig Ervine caught at first slip by Sahan Arachchige. Sri Lanka finished 273-9 thanks to vice-captain Charith Asalanka’s third ODI century in a knock that included nine boundaries. Opener Avishka Fernando departed for none from five balls in the first over, leaving Kusal Mendis (46) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (41) to post a 63-run stand.
But the pair failed to make the most of their starts, with Samarawickrama offering a gentle catch to first slip and Mendis run out. Left-hander Asalanka stitched several partnerships with the lower order including a 52-run eighth-wicket stand with Dushmantha Chameera to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt before he was run out in the final over. Richard Ngarava was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers after early breakthroughs with the new ball, finishing 2-39 after claiming Fernando and Samarawickrama.
The left-arm seamer came back for a second spell in the death overs but had to withdraw after sending down just four deliveries due to cramps. The teams will play two more one-day matches on Monday and Thursday followed by three T20 games, all in Colombo.
