Zimbabwe’s stronger suit – batting – let them down at the worst possible time in the series, as they collapsed to just 70 all out in the deciding one-dayer in Pallekele and handed Sri Lanka a win by a whopping 184 runs despite posting only 254/9 in the first half.
The tourists failed to bat even 25 overs in the run-chase where they could’ve achieved history, winning another ODI series in Sri Lanka. But as it panned out, only two of their batters – Takudzwanashe Kaitano (19) and Ryan Burl (15) – made it through to double digits, bundled out in just 24.4 overs.
In a remarkable turnaround from the last two ODIs, Sri Lankan bowling attack came up with its best when the team needed it desperately. Having posted a modest total on the board, the hosts required their bowlers to pull things back and make a match out of it.
In a heavily one-sided second half, Jeffrey Vandersay (4/10), Dushmantha Chameera (2/20) and Ramesh Mendis (2/26) ran through the Zimbabwean batting unit, which had done so well in the first two games to level the three-match series 1-1.
Zimbabwe had a much better first half in the game, where they used as many as seven bowlers and, in a collective effort, restricted SL to what was the lowest total of the series up until their disastrous collapse.
Left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava (2/46), Tendai Chatara (1/35), Wellington Masakadza (1/42) and Burl (1/26) all did reasonably well with the ball to set up what, at the halfway mark, felt like should be a straightforward chase for the tourists.
Sri Lanka looked highly vulnerable with the bat. But thanks to timely half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (55) and Charith Asalanka (52), as well as useful thirties from Kusal Mendis (36) and Chamika Karunaratne (30), they were able to cross the 250-mark.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka 254/9 in 50 overs (Nissanka 55, Asalanka 52; Ngarava 2/56) beat Zimbabwe 70/10 in 24.4 overs (Kaitano 19; Vandersay 4/10, Chameera 2/20) by 184 runs
