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| @Pathum Nissanka's reaction after completing century vs Zimbabwe at Harare 2025 |
On August 31, 2025, Sri Lanka scored a narrow five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI at Harare Sports club to sweep the two-match series by two. This was a narrow escape, which saw bright displays and particularly by Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka, the man behind the chase, who delivered a spectacular 122 off 136 balls, which earned him the Player of the Match, and Player of the Series in this series. However, the total of 277/7 by Zimbabwe and the bowling spirit were not enough to challenge the depth and composure of Sri Lanka, which won the game by three balls remaining.
Match Overview:
Captain Charith Asalanka won the toss in Sri Lanka, and chose to bowl first on a two paced dry pitch at Harare. It was a decision that would later pay off as their bowlers, especially Dushmananta Chameera held the batting of Zimbabwe to task at critical junctures. Zimbabwe (their tactics being, strangely enough, cautious but aggressive) reached 277/7, led by Ben Curran (79) and an unbeaten 59 out of 55 by Sikandar Raza. But Sri Lanka bowled with discipline in the middle overs and a dropped catch of Nissanka was the difference in the result.
It was not an easy pursuit. Sri Lanka managed to overcome the initial adversity, and the century of Nissanka and 90-run partnership with Asalanka (71 off 61) helped them reach the goal. Although there was a late scare, as the bowlers of Zimbabwe tightened their screws and Asalanka was dismissed in the 49th over, the lower order of the Sri Lanka team, including Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis, managed to drive the nail into the coffin in the very last over.
Zimbabwe's Batting: A Story of Begins and Ends.
Zimbabwe started the innings on a promising note as openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran added 50 runs in only 8.1 overs. Bennett, who had driven 17, was rudely terminated by Chameera in the 10th over, but Curran was still there keeping the innings together,nine boundaries to a fluent 50 off 55 balls. He made 61 with Brendan Taylor, who was returning, but Taylor was rusty and had a hamstring niggle that reduced the scoring rate. After 25 overs, Janith Liyanage dismissed Taylor on a hard-earned contribution to break the stand in the 24th over, and Zimbabwe was 116/2.
The balance was tipped to the advantage of Sri Lanka at the 32nd over when Asitha Fernando hit twice and knocked out Curran (79) and captain Sean Williams in quick succession. Curran edged short a ball to the middle-wicket, Williams dragged one to his stumps leaving Zimbabwe with 155/4. The short-lived resistance of Tony Munyonga was cut short by the intervention of Dilshan Madushanka in the 38th over, which left Zimbabwe at 176/5. A total of less than 250 appeared probable at this point
Sikandar Raza did not have the same plans. He made an unbeaten 59 in 55 with five boundaries and a 76 stand with Clive Madande (36 off 36) in the sixth wicket restored Zimbabwe to its innings. It was Raza handling the field and sending loose deliveries, with smaller contributions by the tail, that drove Zimbabwe to a competitive 277/7. Chameera was the bowler of choice taking 3-52 and Fernando and Madushanka provided vital wickets. The middle overs showed a difference in control by the Sri Lankans who appeared to score 139 runs off four wickets during the period 15 40 compared to their batting performance later.
Srilanka's Chase: Nissanka' Masterclass
Sri Lanka openeders, Pathum Nissanka and Nuwanidu Fernando, took a reserved stance towards the strong new-ball combination in Zimbabwe of Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani. The opening 10 overs was also productive without any 45 run loss. But Brad Evans followed suit, hitting Fernando in the 11th over, and then taking out Kusal Mendis in the 14th over, which put Sri Lanka at 68/2.
Nissanka was not deterred, and he had an able ally in Sadeera Samarawickrama. The 78-run third-wicket stand settled their innings, Nissanka getting his fifty in 54 balls. The two went through a difficult phase with the spinners of Zimbabwe who took some turn. When Samarawickrama was dismissed in the 31st over in the mid-wicket position by the debutant Ernest Masuku, Asalanka entered the ground. Sri Lanka were well positioned at 122/2 at the midway point.
The patient/aggressive combination was the innings of Nissanka. He struck on 78, and then took advantage of the respite, and his seventh ODI hundred came in 111 balls. The pillar of the chase was his 122, with 16 boundaries in it. Asalanka added to this with a brisk 71 in 61, including an important four in the 48th over that misfielded Wessly Madhevere. The 90-run partnership has put Sri Lanka squarely ahead of the game, and they require 67 to score off the remaining 10 overs and have seven wickets remaining.
Zimbabwe made a retaliatory effort during the death overs, Ngarava (2-53) and Evans twisting the screws. The last powerplay was when Sri Lanka had a boundary-less innings until the 48th over when two boundaries reduced the equation to 12 runs off 12 balls. When Ngarava cleared off Asalanka in one of the deep mid-wicket positions, Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis had to hold their nerve.
Mendis closed the pursuit with one off Muzarabani in the 49.3rd over, at 278/5.
Key Moments and performances:
- Pathum Nissanka's Century: His masterpiece in timing of race was 122 off 136 by Pathum Nissanka. He survived a dropped catch, so Sri Lanka remained above the rate required, and he was awarded the Player of the Match and Series accolades thanks to his 198 runs over the two matches.
- Raza's Resilience: Sikandar Raza: Raza contributed in both giving 59 that put Zimbabwe in the game and also his leadership and general contribution to the team made him handy.
- Dushmantha Chameera's Bowling: Bowling 3-52, together with the early wicketing of Bennett, prefigured the Sri Lankan control in the middle overs.
- Zimbabwe' Fielding Woes: It is the Fielding Woes which resulted in dropping Nissanka on 78 and the expensive misfield in the 48th over that cost them their match.
Captains’ Reflections:
Charith Asalanka commended the way his team executed basics, specifically the century of Nissanka and the contribution of the young players. He made a point of running as hard as possible and taking as little risk as possible and attributed this to the fans supporting them. Zimbabwe stand-in captain Sean Williams deplored missed chances, especially in the mid-over, and admitted that a dropped catch by Nissanka had been a turning point. He complimented his bowlers, Ngarava and Muzarabani, on their consistency but lamented how the team failed to use the right opportunities.
Looking Ahead:
The 2-0 series victory in Sri Lanka would be a morale boost before the Asia Cup and their T20I team will begin their series against Zimbabwe later this month on September 3. In the case of Zimbabwe, the show has brought out their potential as well as their inability to capture crucial moments. The performances of Raza, Curran and bowling duo of Ngarava and Muzarabani give hope to the T20Is.
Brief Scores:
Zimbabwe 277/7 in 50 overs (Ben Curran 79, Sikandar Raza 59*; Dushmantha Chameera 3/52, Asitha Fernando 2/67) lost Sri Lanka 278/5 in 49.3 overs (Pathum Nissanka 122, Charith Asalanka 71; Richard Ngarava 2/53, Brad Evans 2/54) by 5 wickets.
