Madushanka’s Last-Over Heroics Seal Thrilling Win for Sri Lanka
Hey, cricket fans, have you heard about the incredible finish in Harare yesterday? The first ODI between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka turned into a nail-biting thriller, and it was all decided in the final over thanks to a sensational performance by Sri Lanka’s young fast bowler, Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka had set a competitive target of 298 runs for Zimbabwe, powered by some brilliant batting performances. Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a solid 76 off 92 balls, while Janith Liyanage remained unbeaten on 70 and Kamindu Mendis added a quick-fire 57 not out. Those last two smashed 137 runs together in the final 14 overs, giving Sri Lanka a strong total of 298 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs. Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava had done a commendable job with the ball, picking up 2 wickets for 34 runs, but the Sri Lankan partnerships ultimately set the stage for a thrilling chase.
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Zimbabwe’s innings looked promising, especially through Sikandar Raza, who scored a near-match-winning 92. The team had recovered well from a shaky position of 161 for 5, thanks to a 128-run partnership between Raza and Tony Munyonga. Earlier, Ben Curran and captain Sean Williams had steadied the innings with a 118-run third-wicket stand. Asitha Fernando had been impressive with the ball for Sri Lanka, taking 3 wickets for 50 runs, showing the game was finely balanced.
Then came the drama in the final over. Zimbabwe needed just 10 runs to win with six balls remaining, and it seemed like the match could go either way. But Dilshan Madushanka had other plans. In a stunning display of nerves and skill, he dismissed Raza, trapped Brad Evans caught, and then clean bowled Richard Ngarava to claim a hat-trick. Madushanka gave away only two singles in the last three deliveries, and Zimbabwe ended on 291 for 8, falling just short of the target. This made Madushanka the eighth Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in ODI cricket, joining legends like Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas.
It’s also worth noting that Zimbabwe’s regular captain, Craig Ervine, was ruled out due to a calf injury, so veteran all-rounder Sean Williams led the side. The team’s resilience without their skipper and the return of Brendon Taylor, who played his first international match in nearly four years, added to the intrigue of the contest.
With this victory, Sri Lanka takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match ODI series, and both teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming three-match T20I series. But for now, the cricket world will be talking about Madushanka’s final-over heroics—a hat-trick that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and delivered an unforgettable finish in Harare.
This match proves once again why cricket is called the game of glorious uncertainties—anyone can be a hero until the very last ball.
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