By Hillary Ncube
Zimbabwe’s senior mens cricket team, the Chevrons put up a spirited fight but ultimately succumbed to Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the series at Harare Sports Club.
The visitors had taken a 1-0 lead in the series, and a win would have given them a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers set the tone early, with Dushmantha Chameera striking in the 10th over to remove opening batter Brian Bennett for 21 runs.
Zimbabwe were 55/1 at that stage, but Ben Curran and Brandon Taylor steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership.
Curran’s 79 runs off 95 balls was the major highlight of the Zimbabwe innings, but he was caught and bowled by Asitha Fernando.
Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 59 helped Zimbabwe post a competitive total of 277/7 in 50 overs.
Chameera was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, claiming 3 wickets, while Fernando took 2 wickets.
In response, Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka played a masterclass, scoring 122 runs. Charith Alasanka’s 71 runs supported Nissanka’s efforts, and Sri Lanka won the match by 5 wickets.
Despite the loss, Zimbabwe’s effort and character were commendable. Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava claimed 2 wickets each, while Ernest Masuku secured a wicket on his debut.
The two teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming 3-match T20 series, which begins on Wednesday.
The second and third matches will be played on September 6 and 7, respectively.
The Chevrons will be seeking to bounce back and make a statement in the shortest format of the game.
Chevrons’ Brave Fight Falls Short
