Angelo Mathews heroic’s sees Sri Lanka win last ball thriller

Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Angelo Mathews brilliant knock over-shine Sikandar Raza’s 62 as the host register a last ball thriller in the first T20I worked off at R.Premadasa stadium on Sunday.

Earlier put into bat first, Zimbabwe posted 143 runs on the board from the back of captains knock from Sikandar Raza.

The Lankan bowlers bowled in good line and lengths to keep them under pressure right from the beginning as they were 38/2 at one point.

That’s when skipper Sikandar Raza stepped up and changed the complexion of the game.

The experience campaigner smashed a blistering 62 runs off 42 deliveries, which helped the visitors post a respectable total on the board at the end of the allotted 20 overs.

Despite lone innings by Raza none of the other batters contributed largely.

In bowling front, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up two wickets each with the ball.

During the chase it was expected to be a good total to chase but it proved to be difficult in the end as Sri Lanka achieved the target in a last ball thriller.

Sri Lanka were off to a poor start where at one stage they were struggling at 6-83 with half of the recognise batters back in the pavilion cheaply.

However, Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka’s 55-run stand for the 8th wicket revived Sri Lanka’s chase.

They batted cautiously until the very end and the host required 14 runs in the last over where Angelo Mathews struck two consecutive boundaries in the first two balls to make equation more easy for the host.

However 36 year old departed on 48 when he was caught at deep mid wicket when he attempted to clear the boundary.

With 6 runs required in 2 balls Dushmantha Chameera got a thick outside edge for a boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings before chipping a slower ball over deep mid wicket to help the side over the line.

Former skipper Dasun Shanaka also chipped in with useful knock of 18 ball 26 runs.

The win saw Sri Lanka take 1-0 lead in the 3 match series. The two sides will next meet Tuesday in the second T20I at the same venue.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 143/5 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 62; Maheesh Theekshana 2-16, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-19) lost to Sri Lanka 144/7 in 20 overs (Angelo Mathews 46; Sikandar Raza 3-13) by 3 wickets