SL vs ZIM | 2nd ODI: Shanaka's hundred goes in vain as Zimbabwe make it 1-1

Zimbabwe turned the fortunes for themselves on Tuesday after they levelled the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. The visitors defeated the Lankan Lions by 22 runs in the second ODI to make it 1-1.

Batting first, Zimbabwe were off to a decent start after openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Chakabva put up a stand of 59 runs for the first wicket. But the dominance with the bat began when captain Craig Ervine walked out in the middle to bat.

The visiting team lost the second wicket in the form of Chakbva (47 off 50) when the team score read 90. Ervine was then joined by Sean Williams and the two batters made an important contribution with a 106-run partnership for the third wicket.

While Williams missed out on a fifty by just two runs, Ervine went on to notch up 91 off 98 deliveries. Later, Raza also chipped in with a half-century as Zimbabwe posted 302/8 in 50 overs on the board.

The home side had a dismal beginning to the chase as they lost early wickets and were reduced to 63/4 in the 15th over itself.

Shanaka and Kusal Mendis tried to steady the ship and provide the resistance with a partnership of 118 runs but Mendis’ departure for 57 broke the shackles and Sri Lanka were once again pushed on the back foot.

Chamika Karunaratne replaced Mendis in the middle and built a 66-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the skipper.

Shanaka was eventually undone for 102 off 94 deliveries and his dismissal broke the shackles as Sri Lanka lost a few more wickets at regular intervals to get restricted to 280/9 in 50 overs.

Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani had three wickets each to their names.

Ervine who was adjudged man of the match later talked about the track. “With the seamers it (the pitch) was quite easy to bat. Vandersay got a bit more purchase. Certainly more in it for the spinners today. Our seamers did so well upfront getting those early wickets. We are very happy with how it (team combination) looks. We will back them to come and do the job in the third game,” he said after the match.

The two teams will now lock horns in the decider on Friday (January 21, 2022).

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SL vs ZIM | 2nd ODI: Captain Ervine misses out on century, but guides Chevrons past 300

The Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine eld from the front as the batting unit of the African side once again proved it’s worth taking the team total past 300 after a brilliant 91 from the captain and a great half-century from Sikandar Raza. This score has come on the back of 296 that Zimbabwe scored against the same opposition in the first ODI played at the same venue- Pallekele International Stadium on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Once again deciding to bat first after winning the toss, the Chevrons got off to a decent start as the opening pair of Regis Chakabva and youngster Takudzwanashe Kaitano added 59 for the first wicket before Kaitano was removed by Jeffrey Vandersay once again. Then walked in Ervine, who was lucky enough to survive a dismissal thanks to DRS. After being adjudged Leg Before Wicket off the bowling of Maheesh Theekshana, Ervine opted for DRS which clearly showed that the ball would have missed the stumps. Pouncing on to that chance, the 36-year-old played a brilliant knock. He first had a 31 run stand with Chakabva, which was broken as the latter was stumped off Vandersay for 47, narrowly missing out on a fifty. Ervine created yet another partnership as he got going with his old pal Sean Williams, adding 106 for the third wicket. Those runs came in just 104 balls, maintaining the scoring rate of the team. While Williams could not add another fifty to his tally, getting stumped off Vandersay on 48, Ervine got to his 18th fifty during that partnership. Wesley Madhevere, who joined Ervine after the fall of Williams didn’t stay long either and Zimbabwe were reduced to 205-4. Sikandar Raza walked in and then added 51 runs with Ervine before the captain was removed by Theekshana unfortunately for 91 off 98 balls. Raza wasn’t much troubled by that as he added 40 for the sixth wicket with Ryan Burl and also reached his 19th ODI fifty before being dismissed as the last Zimbabwean wicket to fall with the score at 302. Before him, Burl and Wellington Masakadza had been dismissed as well. Apart from Vadersay, who picked up three wickets, Nuwan Pradeep added two to his tally in the last over as well while Theekshana and Chamika Karunaratne got one each.