Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 5th ODI at Hambantota, , Jul 10 2017 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
5th ODI, Hambantota, July 10, 2017, Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka
(38.1/50 ov, T:204) 204/7

Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets (with 71 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
27* (27) & 3/21
sikandar-raza
Player Of The Series
258 runs
hamilton-masakadza
New
ZIM
Full commentary

Thanks a lot for joining us. The series isn't over. We've got a Test match starting on July 14. So not much of a break for both teams. That will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Do join us for that. Until then, it's goodbye from all of us here. Do stay connected with our ongoing coverage of the Women's World Cup.

Graeme Cremer: It was a bit.....I don't know how to put it. I was pressure, but we needed just one small partnership to get over the line. Happy that Sikandar came to the party. It turned around very quickly but happy we pulled it off in the end. We knew they were expecting seam on both ends. Raza is a definite weapon with the new ball. I was hoping for a breakthrough or two and he gave us that in the Powerplay. I usually always call heads, decided to change today and it worked out well. This win is very special, fans must be jumping around back home. We knew we're playing good enough cricket to put them under pressure.

Angelo Mathews: We've been outplayed in all departments. Credit to Zimbabwe, they gave us a really tough time and we didn't have any answers. Even though conditions were tough to bat on, 200 was way below what we expected. They have a good batting line-up so 203 was not enough. All the bowlers bowled pretty well, but 203 wasn't enough. The way the openers batted right throughout - unfortunately they couldn't do it today.

Hamilton Masakadza is the Player of the series. I was a little bit of pressure coming in the series. The selectors backed me and gave me another shot. I've worked on a lot of plans with the batting coach and it's paid off. We wanted to have a look first up. That's how Solo has a look, he always has a go. Worked on the sweep quite a lot before coming here.

Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match To win the series with the bunch of boys we've had, I can't be happier. Skipper asked me in the morning and I said I'd like to bowl the first over. He trusted me and it paid off. I'm so happy it worked out for the team.

5.05pm Sikandar Raza gets a big bear hug from his mates. This is a historic series win, Zimbabwe's first-ever against Sri Lanka. He played a key role with the ball earlier in the day. Then saw his top order blast their way through. For a long time, it didn't look like he'd be needed with the bat but when he finally got out to bat, Zimbabwe were staring at defeat. He allayed nerves of a meltdown with a sensible approach, negotiated Malinga superbly and wasn't afraid to take on the spinners.

For large parts of their chase, Zimbabwe made this look a cakewalk. The way the top order negotiated spin on a turner resonated their approach right through the series: positive. Then came a meltdown - they lost four for 28 - to make it a full-blown collapse. Suddenly nerves started to jangle but Raza wasn't going to give it away, was he? So after gunning down the first-ever successful chase of 300 plus in Galle, Zimbabwe have clinched a historic series win.

Solomon Mire: Spectacular win! It's a happy moment for a lot of Zimbabweans around the world. I haven't played here before, it was a new experience for me and I'll take a lot of confidence out of this tour. It's been amazing.

Lance Klusener, the batting coach: Pleased for the boys. We've come a long way in the last six months. Credit to them for embracing Sri Lanka, it's a tough place so to win is a wonderful feeling. We're really going to enjoy this and then we'll move on to the Test match. We have to reap the rewards for the effort so we'll celebrate hard tonight.

38.1
6
Hasaranga to Raza, SIX runs

that's the end of that. They've done it. Zimbabwe have won the series. The celebrations tell you a story. Raza saw this tossed up over his eyeline and couldn't hold back as he stepped out and lofted this over the bowler's head. Long-off was under that but the ball kept swirling away. Raza was hitting it with the breeze so it just about sailed over the ropes even though he didn't middle it. Zimbabwe's first away series win since 2009. What a moment. Such a thin line that between a wicket and a six. What a game we've had

end of over 388 runs
ZIM: 198/7CRR: 5.21 RRR: 0.50
Sikandar Raza21 (26b 1x4 1x6)
Graeme Cremer11 (13b)
Lasith Malinga 10-0-44-2
Asela Gunaratne 4-0-23-1
37.6
1
Malinga to Raza, 1 run

gets this to reverse late, works the full delivery to square leg

Zoraiz: "This game has a lots of similarities to the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka encounter at this year's CT. PAK won the toss and chose to field and SL stuttered in the middle overs before Asela managed to salvage a below par total. Then Pakistan got off to a flyer before a collapse got them on the brink if defeat. But then the unbeaten 8th wicket partnership saw them home. " No one did a Thisara though, at least not yet.

37.5
1
Malinga to Cremer, 1 run

once again bunts this into the gap between point and square third ma

37.4
2
Malinga to Cremer, 2 runs

full toss on the pads, flicked into the gap at deep midwicket. Target into single-digits now

37.3
2
Malinga to Cremer, 2 runs

full and wide outside off, he opens the face of the bat to squeeze that towards square third man.

37.2
1
Malinga to Raza, 1 run

steers this into the gap between cover and point

Five more deliveries of Malinga to negotiate. This is getting tense

37.1
1
Malinga to Cremer, 1 run

full toss on the pads, flicked to deep fine leg

end of over 376 runs
ZIM: 190/7CRR: 5.13 RRR: 1.07
Graeme Cremer5 (9b)
Sikandar Raza19 (24b 1x4 1x6)
Asela Gunaratne 4-0-23-1
Lasith Malinga 9-0-36-2
36.6
1
Gunaratne to Cremer, 1 run

whips this uppishly, just eludes the fielder at midwicket

36.5
1
Gunaratne to Raza, 1 run

bunts this gently into the off side for a quick single

36.4
Gunaratne to Raza, no run

lunges a long way forward and dabs this away-drifter to the off side

36.3
1
Gunaratne to Cremer, 1 run

sensible, gets to the pitch of the ball and works this down to long-on

36.2
2
Gunaratne to Cremer, 2 runs

swept towards deep backward square leg. Fetched it from way outside off

36.1
1
Gunaratne to Raza, 1 run

lucky to get away with an absolute gift of a delivery. Rocks back and pulls the short ball straight to deep square leg

sathish2888: "Since Dananjaya is done with his overs, all Zimbabwe has to do is, block remaining of Malinga's overs.. They have plenty of time to score after that." Bat out one Malinga over. Before that, they'll have to negotiate Asela.

end of over 362 runs
ZIM: 184/7CRR: 5.11 RRR: 1.42
Graeme Cremer1 (6b)
Sikandar Raza17 (21b 1x4 1x6)
Lasith Malinga 9-0-36-2
Akila Dananjaya 10-1-47-4
35.6
Malinga to Cremer, no run

another yorker, another one that is kept out. Stunning from the old pro

35.5
Malinga to Cremer, no run

this is the Malinga of 2014. Right into the blockhole again, Cremer just about manages to keep that out. Risky though as he tried to work that to the leg side

35.4
1
Malinga to Raza, 1 run

flicked into the deep square leg region, Gunathilaka does well to come haring in to keep it down to a single

35.3
1lb
Malinga to Cremer, 1 leg bye

another full length delivery that tails back in to hit the pad and deflect to the off side. Cremer caught ball-watching, non-striker took off for the run and was through. Gestured furiously to his captain to get across, eventually they did. What drama

35.2
Malinga to Cremer, no run

bends back in late to hit him flush on the pad but the impact was way outside. It was a full toss, he should've put that away

35.1
Malinga to Cremer, no run

this is a Malinga special. Full and straight, tails back in late and is angling into his toes, not sure how he managed to get his bat down to keep that out. Phew

end of over 357 runs • 1 wicket
ZIM: 182/7CRR: 5.20 RRR: 1.46
Sikandar Raza16 (20b 1x4 1x6)
Graeme Cremer1 (1b)
Akila Dananjaya 10-1-47-4
Lasith Malinga 8-0-35-2
34.6
6
Dananjaya to Raza, SIX runs

what confidence! Steps out, decides he's had enough, gets to the pitch of the ball and launches this over long-off. It sailed a long way back into the stands. Guts.

AskESPNcricinfo Logo
Instant answers to T20 questions
Zimbabwe Innings
<1 / 3>