A MAGICAL bowling spell by Sri Lankan top spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga on his return to international cricket proved too powerful for the Zimbabwe national cricket team batsmen as the hosts cruised to an eight-wicket win in the final One Day International in Colombo to take the series 2-0.
Hasaranga recovered from a hamstring problem to dish out devilish googlies, taking career best figures of seven wickets for 19 runs in 5.5 overs as the Zimbabwe batters once again failed to make an impression.
Zimbabwe captain, Craig Ervine elected to bat upon winning the toss and with the openers, Joylord Gumbie (29) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (17) poised for a big opening stand, a heavy downpour arrived to cause an hour and half minutes stoppage.
Momentum quickly shifted in the hosts’ favour after resumption with Zimbabwe losing three quick wickets of Kaitano, Gumbie and skipper Ervine for only four runs. The trio succumbed to Harasanga's torture as Zimbabwe slumped from 43/1 to 47/3.
Rain once again interrupted play forcing the game to be reduced to a 27-over-aside game but the visitors choked to 96 all out inside 22.5 overs. Luke Jongwe scored 14 runs while Wellington Masakadza and Sikandar Raza got 11 and 10 runs respectively.
Richard Ngarava made an early break-through in Sri Lanka's chase, taking the wicket of Avishka Fernando for a four-ball duck, while Masakadza had Shevon Daniel caught by Milton Shumba for 12 runs. However, there was no denying Sri Lanka their deserved victory as skipper Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama finished unbeaten on 66 and 14 runs respectively.
- Zimbabwe seek final flourish
- Zimbabwe seek final flourish
- ERVINE POSITIVE DESPITE POOR END TO SRI LANKA TOUR
- Zim eyeing another Sri Lanka upset
