Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI at Harare, ZIM vs SL, Aug 29 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

And with that our coverage comes to an end, after a game that began as a slow burn, but escalated dramatically at the death. An ideal start to this series, join us for the next game on Sunday. But for now, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of the team, this is goodbye!

Charith Asalanka: It was an amazing game of cricket. The death bowling was amazing at the end. [missed the fifth bowler?] Not really, that's the line up we're looking at going forward. When we look at another allrounder, sometimes we have a lack of batting. We want 7 batters and 3 allrounders, but the thing is the allrounders have to bowl well. [Final partnership?] They set the platform for us, we were in trouble once I got out. Amazing partnership, congratulations to them."

Player of the Match goes to Dilshan Madushanka for that phenomenal final over: "Long time since I've been with the team, so just very happy to do this on my comeback. Very happy that we executed our collective plans at the death."

Sean Williams: "I think the powerplay was unbelievable for us, all chances were taken and everything went according to plan. Just towards the backend of the innings - bad decision on my part - and the one over cost us the game. [bowlers?] They've been unbelievable for us, setting the tone at the top of the innings, setting an example for the youngsters as well, they [Ngarava and Muzarabani] have been class. [299 target?] We lost two quick wickets and Ben and myself just decided to be a little proactive. We had time to get in and play a few shots, and it worked out quite well. Ben actually was striking the ball better than me, it was more on the lines of getting in the line of the ball and accessing the 100% strike rate with the single on offer. By doing that the boundary will come. He was really, really good. [Munyonga handling the pressure?] I think his character off the field speaks volume about how he handled that situation. Fitness wise, a lot of twos on offer, it's a very difficult area of the game to play in. They nailed the yorkers though."

Time for the post-match presentation.

Akindu : "Heart attack brigade strikes again"

Johann: "Is the C-word appropriate?At 17 needed from 12 balls, it was Zimbabwe's game to lose!" --- definitely a disservice to the efforts from both sets of players, Johann.

5.48pm Well. What a game of a cricket. Narratives galore, from the early Nissanka-Kusal rebuild to the late onslaught from Liyanage and Kamindu, and then to Asitha's two early strikes before Williams and Curran clawed the game back. And then - seemingly the final twist - an outrageous 128-run 6th wicket stand between Raza and Munyonga. A partnership that was paced nearly to perfection and should have won the hosts the game. But with 10 needed off the final over, Madushanka who had been kept to the last almost out of necessity than any grand design, takes out Raza on the way to a memorable hattrick, and eventually steering his team to victory. This was genuinely a game that had it all, and now we can all breathe.

PK: "This is the danger of not giving it some serious welly in the 45-49 overs. "

Boundary needed here, and nothing else.

Odinlass : "Hahahaha! My word! This is outrageous!"

Ashraf: "what have u done @Hayes???"

Akindu: "Madushanka YOU BEAUTY!!! clutch play to move the odds toward SL. "

Nuur: "...And that is the problem with one man shows. When that one man is gone, show is over"

Alan: "Finally a jinx worked"

abhi : "Had to jinx him Hayes"

10 needed from 6, will it be a moment of redemption for Madushanka?

Hayes: "I hope by year's end we see this Raza innings highlighted as one of the innings of the year. Absolute masterclass. Very reminiscent of Mike Hussey."

The floodlights have come on.

Priyank: "Last few years, Raza has contributed to Zimbabwe by a lot. True fighter. In current age any player will not have hunger to play for national team and would be happy to just play for franchise cricket. Specially, when you are playing for struggling team."

Matthew: "Love matches like these. SL's fireworks with the bat at the end vs Zimbabwe's measured repair job after being 0/2. Best kind of match."

Matthew: "Love matches like these. SL's fireworks with the bat at the end vs Zimbabwe's measured repair job after being 0/2. Best kind of match."

Asitha to bowl the 49th. SL's overrate is also slow, and they have been penalised - extra fielder in the circle now.

AE: "I am not convinced this is ZIM game here. Both sides are tensed, both could use a breather. That being said Raza is the only thing standing between victory and defeat for either teams."

Rahmath: "Didn't drop the catch but dropped the match" --- those are the worst.

Rod: "Munyonga has hit just the one boundary yet still has 80 odd strike rate. Heavy, heavy strike rotation in this partnership"

24 needed from 18, you have to say advantage Zimbabwe.

Rambo: "Game's on a knife's edge: 2 very well set batters with a decent hitter in Evans to follow vs veteran SL quicks with guile to thwart their plans. It's Zimbabwe to lose now, but Raza's wicket will almost take SL through."