Slower ball on a length, and it's a swing and a miss. Zimbabwe level the series!
And that's all from me and Sunaadh. Hope you enjoyed the coverage and thanks for keeping us company. We'll be back on Friday for the third and final game, in what is proving to be a gripping ODI series. Good night!
Zim captain and Man of the Match Craig Ervine: "It was quite nice to bat, it was coming on nicely. I thought there was a little bit more in it for the spinners today. I thought in the first game we were bowled a little bit short and wide, and I thought this time the seamers did really well to get those early wickets for us. We were under a bit of pressure to win today, but hats off to the boys for coming out and showing that, you know, desperation to pull off the win."
SL captain Dasun Shanaka: "We didn't look at the scoreboard when it was me and Kamindu. The ball came on nicely in the first half of the inning, and then it was a bit skiddy. We need to have better plans next game. I don't think there will be any pressure. As for today, we didn't bowl well at the start and then our top order also didn't click. Hopefully both will fire in the next game."
David Patterson: "Hats off to Ervine, Williams, Chakabva, Chatara, but my performance of the match was Muzarabani to get early wickets on a good pitch, with dropped catches and keep causing them problems throughout. But a great ZIM team effort overall, thoroughly deserved"
H. Prasanna : "Zimbabwe should be happy with their batting here. Two consecutive good performances with multiple batsmen coming good. And the future looks good wrt bowling. Kudos!"
karan: "This seriously hurts SL's WC dreams...dead last on the points table if we switch to percentage basis."
10.40pm And that's that. Zimbabwe make it 1-1 after a fantastic performance! They identified where they fell short in first game, and simply did better. The batter's once again set a great platform, and while the batting at the death could have perhaps been better, the bowlers were far more accurate with their lines and lengths than on Sunday night as they throttled the Lankan chase.
This meant the Sri Lankan batters were rarely provided freebies, and this was highlighted by the some 100+ dot balls in the innings. It was only a 118-run stand off 120 balls between skipper Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis, and then a 66-run 61 ball partnership between Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne that kept home side within touching distance. Once Shanaka fell moments after reaching his maiden ODI hundred though, the writing was well and truly on the wall, but the Zimbabwean bowlers still kept to their tight lines and lengths and ensured there would be no chance of a late charge.
Full and swung away behind square on the leg side. Well stopped on the ropes.
Short, top edged into space on the offside.
Full and straight, and this is carved over point. Great shot!
Short and goes for the hook, but only manages a faint edge through to the keeper.
Slower ball, drifting down towards leg and he lofts it into the air on the leg side, one bounce into Sean Williams.
Slower ball, full, well outside off and he swings it towards deep cover
Full, slower ball at the stumps and he flicks it towards deep square leg
Short, into the body and he backs away and dabs it square on the off side
Length, outside off and he walks across and scoops it towards short fine leg
OUT! Full, at the stumps and he digs it out, with the bottom off the bat and can only elevate it towards long on for an easy catch!
Tayyab : "Anything like "Remember The Name" possible tonight? " - One can hope
An excellent bowling effort from Ngarava, with some crucial economical overs
Full, wide outside off and Vandersay shuffles across, swings, and misses
Full toss, angling across off and he misses the ball entirely
Length, angling outside off, he charges down and strokes it towards mid-off
Full, angling outside off, he walks across the stumps and attempts a wild swing and misses
Short, outside off and he cuts it down towards third man
Jeffrey Vandersay comes in to replace Karunaratne
Full, wide outside off and he shuffles across and strikes it into deep cover. The batters attempt a risky two and Regis Chakabva whips the bails off and it's a run-out at the strikers end! That's the end of Karunaratne - disaster for Sri Lanka!
Ngarava with the ball
Dipanjan Show: "2 sixes are all that Sri Lanka need to put Zimbabwe to disarray. Zimbabwe needs to wrap things up here, something that they and other lower ranked teams have failed to do for years."
Length, outside off and he uses the toe end of the bat to muscle the ball towards deep mid-wicket, with some excellent running allowing for a couple of runs
Slower ball, he takes a knee and lofts it square on the leg side in the air, but the ball does not carry to the fielders at the boundary
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Zimbabwe, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2021/22 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | 3-match series level 1-1 |
Match number | ODI no. 4343 |
Match days | 18 January 2022 - daynight (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Zimbabwe 10, Sri Lanka 0 |