@Dilshan Madhushanka's reaction after taking a hat trick vs Zimbabwe at Harare 2025
On August 29, 2025 the Harare Sports Club welcomed a hectic first One-Day International (ODI) between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka secured a heart-throbbing 7-run win after a game that concluded on the final over. It was the match of a two-match ODI series and breath-taking performances were witnessed with the Sri Lankan Dilshan Madushanka as the hero of the match, as the wicket hit a hat-trick in the final over to thwart the heroic chase by Zimbabwe. Led by the heroic 92 of Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe just missed out chasing the imposing total of 298 /6 of Sri Lanka but came short at 291/8 and it was a match to remember.
Match Overview:Zimbabwe, with skipper, Sean Williams, in the missing Craig Ervine, called tails, and chose to field hoping to take advantage of early conditions at Harare. Under the leadership of Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka was making a formidable 298/6 with half-centuries by Pathum Nissanka (76), Janith Liyanage (70* and Kamindu Mendis (57). The early chase led by Asitha Fernando with two hits made Zimbabwe shake but a 118-run partnership between Ben Curran (70) and Sean Williams (57) and a 128-run partnership between Raza and Tony Munyonga (43) saw Zimbabwe remain on the hunt. But the heroic performances in the last over, by Madushanka who scored a hat-trick, saw Sri Lanka win the match in an exciting manner, thereby giving them a series lead of 1-0.
Sri Lanka Batting: Liyanage and Mendis Tone Setters.
The innings of Sri Lanka started slowly, the openers Pathum Nissanka and Nishan Madushka adding 29 runs before Madushka was caught by Richard Ngarava at the 5th over by 9 runs. A 70-run stand was then constructed by Kusal Mendis (44) and Nissanka who anchored the innings with a patient 76 off 92 balls which included 8 fours. Sri Lanka was left in pain at 161/5 after 36.1 overs when he lost his job in the 32 nd over and Asalanka (0) followed Sadeera Samarawickrama (14) almost immediately. The bowlers of Zimbabwe, especially Ngarava (2/34 in 7.4 overs) and Trevor Gwandu, took the initiative by taking advantage of a surface which provided an early aid.
The turning point was reached with a sensational sixth-wicket partnership of 137 between Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis. Liyanage was not beaten on 70 out of 67 balls and played calmly, with gaps and rotation of the strike, but Mozie Mendis, with 57 off 43 balls, of which 5 four and a six, made the innings sparkle. Their combination, through only 83 balls, turned a small total into an intimidating one. On the last ball, Mendis was struck by the pinpoint yorker of Ngarava but Sri Lanka had made a daunting target of 298/6. Asalanka subsequently gave praises to the pair and said, they placed the platform to us when we were in distress after I managed to come out.
Zimbabwe’s Chase: Early Collapse and Remarkable Recovery
The pursuit of Zimbabwe started in abject fashion as Asitha Fernando hit two in the first over, in the process dismissing Brian Bennett (0) and the returning Brendan Taylor (0) to leave them at 0/2. Ben Curran and captain, Sean Williams leveled the ship through a 118-run stand at the third wicket. The gritty 57 off 65 balls by Williams and fluent 70 off 82 balls by Curran kept Zimbabwe faster than the rate required and Williams played proactively despite the initial uproar.
Nevertheless, the mini-collapse came with the removal of Williams in the 22nd over, which was caused by sweeping off Maheesh Theekshana. Curran had fallen shortly after 70 and Wessly Madhevere 18 had been terminated by a three-man catch of extraordinary brilliance by Liyanage and had left Zimbabwe at 161/5 after 29.6 overs.
In comes Sikandar Raza and Tony Munyonga who made a comeback with a sixth-wicket stand of 128 that came all too close to turning the game. The talisman of Zimbabwe, Raza, combined a sense of caution with spinners and a sense of aggressiveness with seamers, to compose a 92 off 86 balls. He rolled the field like a dice, creaming singles and twos and putting in a ticking when it went loose. Not out on 43, Munyonga, a surviving drop on 35 on deep point, was the ideal companion to Raza, who had to be on 32 off 22 balls. Having 17 to do with the final 12 balls, victory was eminent, with Raza having calculated the strategy, Zimbabwe were sailing through the death-overs.
The Final Over: Madushanka's Moment of Magic
Sri Lanka required 10 to run off the last over and, having been costly previously (4/62 in 10 overs), Dilshan Madushanka was called upon to do so. Against the batting of Raza, who was hitting exceedingly well, Madushanka threw a half-full-toss which Raza, trying to scoop in the hope of capitalizing on three fielders in the off-side, hit right out of the air. The ball shot into the middle stump, terminating the 92-run knock of Raza, who had only just started his hopes of Zimbabwe. The other low full-toss was another which was caught by Brad Evans(0) by Asitha Fernando at backwards square-leg. Madushanka finished this hat-trick by bowling Richard Ngarava (0), banging the stumps once more. As Zimbabwe needed 289/8, Madushanka gave only two singles off the last three balls to give Sri Lanka the win by 7 runs with Zimbabwe ending on 291/8.
Madushanka received the Player of the Match award as a result of his hat-trick, the eighth premier by a Sri Lankan in ODIs. Looking back at his performance he stated that he was playing after sometime in ODI cricket and that he is more than pleased to have played well. His ability to calm down even when in a tight situation particularly at the end of a hard day was the turning point in the victory of Sri Lanka.
Key Moments and Breaking points.
- Early Blows: A second blow by Asitha Fernando in the first over established Zimbabwe in the back which was a strain to their depth.
- Liyanage-Mendis Partnership: The 137 run stand saved Sri Lanka out of 161/5 and it gave a target that was just beyond their reach.
- Heroics of Raza: Raza scored 92 and 128 with Munyonga which took Zimbabwe to the edge demonstrating his ability and will.
- Fielding Lapses: Zimbabwe lost the catch of Munyonga and Sri Lanka dropped the ball, which was compounded by an additional fielder in the circle, a penalty on the over-rate (on the final two overs of the innings), which increased the drama.
- Madushanka hat-trick: The three wickets in three balls in the last over turned the tide of the game and turned what was an almost surety of a Zimbabwe victory into a Sri Lankan steal.
Post-Match Reflections:
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka described the match as a fantastic game of cricket with the death over performance of his bowlers and the LiyanageMendis combination. He stressed the approach adopted by the team in focusing on the batting by having seven batters at the expense of a fifth bowler. Zimbabwean Sean Williams lamented his own removal, and an expensive over, but praised his bowlers, especially Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, who gave the impression of getting the tone early. He even complimented the personality of Munyonga saying how difficult it was to run twos as compared to pinpoint yorkers.
Looking Ahead
Another thrilling competition will be witnessed in the second ODI, which will take place on August 31 in Harare. Sri Lanka will be seeking to close the series on the force of the depth of their bowling and batting strength. Zimbabwe with its better form and capabilities of pushing Sri Lanka to the brink will want to even out the series. The game brought out the strengths of the two teams, the fighting capacity of Sri Lanka and the never say die attitude of Zimbabwe, which preconditioned a dramatic ending.
Conclusion:
The inaugural ODI was one that paid tribute to the perennial popularity of the 50-over game, and the swings of momentum, personal brilliance and the nip-and-tuck finish. The highlights of the game that gave fans the edge of their seat were Madushanka hat-trick, Razas courageous 92 and the Liyanage-Mendis partnership. The introduction of the series will be remembered as a perennial with a 7-run win by Sri Lanka which underlines their winning capability under critical circumstances.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 298/6 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 76, Janith Liyanage 70*; Richard Ngarava 2-34) beat Zimbabwe 291/8 in 50 overs (Sikandar Raza 92, Ben Curran 70; Dilshan Madushanka 4-62, Asitha Fernando 3-50) by 7 runs.