ZIM vs SL (Source: @ZimCricketv/X.com)
In the second game of the three-match T20 series, Zimbabwe won comfortably over the visiting Sri Lankan side by five wickets. Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans turned out to be the heroes with the ball for the home side, as they claimed three wickets each, bowling Sri Lanka out for a paltry 80 before chasing the target down in just 14.2 overs with five wickets to spare.
Here, we take a look at the highlights of the second T20I between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, as it panned out at Harare Sports Club in Harare on Saturday, September 6.
Evans, Raza's Destructive Spells Shot Sri Lanka Out For 80
On Saturday afternoon in Harare, the home side, Zimbabwe, won the toss and put the visiting Sri Lankan side into bat. After being 1-nil down in the series, the Zimbabwean bowlers had a wonderful start as they wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
Opener Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis totally flopped, scoring eight and one, respectively, while one-down batter Kamil Mishara emerged as the top scorer, with a score of 20.
The wickets kept tumbling right from the start until the end of the innings, as the Sri Lankan side could only battle for 17.4 overs, as they were knocked out for a paltry 80 runs, with Brad Evans and Zimbabwean skipper Sikandar Raza bagging three wickets apiece.
The major batting collapse, triggered by Blessing Muzarabani, who claimed two wickets, was then followed by excellent bowling from both Evans and Raza, as they didn't let the Sri Lankan batters put runs on the board.
Sri Lankan skipper, Charith Asalanka, could only manage 18 before being knocked over by Raza, while Evans claimed crucial wickets of Mishara, Nissanka, and Maheesh Theekshana.
Raza bowled a miserly spell of 3/11 in his 4 overs, while Brad Evans gave away just 15 in his 2.4-over spell, claiming three wickets. Meanwhile, Muzarabani was brilliant as well, bowling three overs for 14 runs. Sean Williams was also highly economical, giving away 19 runs in his four overs while claiming the wicket of Dasun Shanaka.
Zimbabwe Level Series By 5 Wickets Despite Chameera's 3-Fer
Chasing a paltry 81 runs for victory in this second T20I to level the series, Zimbabwe also didn't have a great start, losing the opener, Tadiwanashe Marumani, in the fourth over when they only had 20 runs on the board. Following Marumani was Sean Williams, who, after two deliveries, also lost his stumps, as both players were victims of Dushmantha Chameera.
Zimbabwe suddenly were two down for 20 when the skipper, Sikandar Raza, walked in, who also failed in this encounter with the bat, only being able to manage two as he became Chameera's third victim of the night, losing his stumps to his outstanding pace.
Opener Brian Bennett turned out to be the fourth scalp as he could only muster 19 before playing one back straight to Binura Fernando, as they were only a few runs away from victory. Despite quick wickets in the middle, Ryan Burl kept his calm and scored a composed 20 as he remained unbeaten until the end.
In contrast, Tashinga Musekiwa scored 21 not out, taking Zimbabwe to victory in 14.2 overs, as they won comfortably by five wickets, despite Chameera's blazing spell of 3 for 19 in his four overs.
This game, in the end, turned out to be a one-sided affair, where Zimbabwe won with 34 deliveries and five wickets to spare, as Raza and Evans' spell proved difficult for Sri Lanka to manage. Despite losing quick wickets with the bat, Zimbabwe reached home and levelled the series 1-1, going into the series decider.
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