Sri Lanka stunned as Zimbabwe pick up crushing win

“We just need to avoid losing wickets on a regular basis,” said Charith Asalanka at the toss ahead of the 2nd T20I.

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, the exact opposite transpired as they were skittled out for just 80 before hosts Zimbabwe successfully chased it down with five wickets and 5.4 overs to spare.

Asked to bat first, Kusal Mendis was the first of the ten Sri Lankan casualties as he carved the first ball of the second over straight down third man’s throat. 

His opening partner, Pathum Nissanka, then fell in the third over after attempting a pull and being caught superbly by Tony Munyonga. 

Blessing Muzarabani then returned to claim his second wicket by dismissing Nuwanidu Fernando in the fifth over while Kamil Mishara was bowled by Brad Evans in the sixth – leaving Sri Lanka in peril at 37/4 after the PowerPlay.

Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka’s hero from the previous game, couldn’t come to his side’s rescue again as he was trapped lbw by Sikandar Raza for a four-ball duck. 

Having lost half their side with just 38 on the board, skipper Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka scratched together a 26-run stand with hopes to rebuild but those runs consumed 37-balls.

With pressure mounting under a stagnant scoreboard, Shanaka was out looking to accelerate in the 13th over. 

This was followed by a double-blow in the following over as Raza first knocked his counterpart, Asalanka, over before trapping Dushmantha Chameera LBW two balls later. Now reduced to 66/8, the visitors could only manage 14 more runs before being mopped up for 80 in 17.4 overs.

While Zimbabwe started strongly, their chase wasn’t straightforward. 

Tadiwanashe Marumani got his side off the blocks swiftly with a couple of boundaries in the second over but Chameera struck twice in three balls to remove both Marumani and Sean Williams in the fourth over. 

He then returned to dismiss Raza cheaply too in the sixth over to leave Zimbabwe 29/3 at the end of the PowerPlay.

A 26-run stand between Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl helped ease the nerves in the Zimbabwe camp and while Bennett and Munyonga then fell in quick succession, a 14-ball 21-run blitz from Tashinga Musekiwa helped Zimbabwe close a series-levelling victory.

Brief Scores: 
Sri Lanka 80 all-out in 17.4 overs (Kamil Mishara 20; Sikandar Raza 3-11, Brad Evans 3-15) lost to Zimbabwe 84/5 in 14.2 overs (Ryan Burl 22, Tashinga Musekiwa 21; Dushmantha Chameera 3-19) by 5 wickets