Sri Lanka [312/2] defeat Zimbabwe [310/8] by 8 wickets to win 3rd ODI

[Suleiman]

Sri Lanka squad:

N Dickwella†, MD Gunathilaka, BKG Mendis, WU Tharanga, AD Mathews*, DAS Gunaratne, PWH de Silva, PVD Chameera, PADLR Sandakan, SL Malinga, N Pradeep

Zimbabwe squad:

SF Mire, H Masakadza, CR Ervine, SC Williams, Sikandar Raza, PJ Moor†, TK Musakanda, MN Waller, AG Cremer*, TL Chatara, CT Mumba

Sri Lanka win the toss and bowl first.

 

[ammar_merry]

132/1 22ov good start

 

[ExpressPacer]

Zimbabwean openers have literally bullied the Lankan bowling this series. The big man Masakadza 3 short if scoring a brutal century. 150+ after 25 overs. Should be able to make 300 at least. Go Zim!

 

[ExpressPacer]

Masakadza gets the third fastest hundred for Zimbabwe in ODIs!

Sri Lanka pulling things back though. Masakadza's partners playing lots of dots and Chameera bowling at good pace. Consistently around 140. Used to be around 150 though. Maybe lost pace after the injury or is possibly holding it back to avoid injury or exertion.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Zimbabwe looking really good. Only if we still had Jarvis and Taylor. Would definitely be world beaters.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Sri Lankan batting isn't that bad, slowly improving and I expect them to be one of the better batting sides soon but their bowling is by far worse than the likes of Afghanistan and Bangladesh, edging Zimbabwe close. They need to get rid of all these useless, good for nothing all rounders and start playing specialist bowlers. Getting rid off Malinga will also be a good decision because he's a spent force and they need to invest in the youngsters.

I would play Pradeep, Chameera and that other lad who bowls very fast (Shanaka?). The 2 others can spinners. I like Sandakan. There was also Tharindu Kaushal who was supposed to be the next Murali. Wonder what happened to him?

 

[ExpressPacer]

Hasnranga is the definition of mediocrity. Looks like a part-timer and is yet getting so many wickets.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Malinga doesn't take wickets, can't contain either.

 

[Executioner]

Zimbabwe looking really good. Only if we still had Jarvis and Taylor. Would definitely be world beaters.

We?

You a Zimbabwean?

 

[ExpressPacer]

What a player Moor is. Two beautiful sixes against the breeze. Gets out as I type but he's done the damage! Zim should get to 300.

 

[ExpressPacer]

We?

You a Zimbabwean?

I've visited Harare as a child, does that count? rby

Haha just saying we because Zim is my second favourite team.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Malinga needs to retire ASAP man. He's ruining his legacy. Back to back fours by Raza in the last over.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Six on the last delivery. 17 runs in the last over. Brilliant. As they say, you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian. Malinga ruining all the hard work he's put in over the years by sticking on.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Zim has a very good chance to win this match after posting 310 as the pitch getting slower.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Go zim go. Win it.

 

[Markhor]

Pleasantly surprised ! Zimbabwe acquitting themselves nicely, but can they bowl SL out ?

Also surprised Pradeep and Chameera didn't bowl their full quota.

 

[Square Drive]

Zimbabwe to win the series!

 

[ExpressPacer]

Pleasantly surprised ! Zimbabwe acquitting themselves nicely, but can they bowl SL out ?

Also surprised Pradeep and Chameera didn't bowl their full quota.

Pradeep had an injury. Don't know why Chameera didn't though. Some poor captaincy at the end there. Part timers were bowling at the death.

 

[MenInG]

Easy win for SL

 

[hadi123]

Sri Lanka win easily. They do have lots of good players but they're very inexperienced hence SL struggling but in a few years if some of the players don't fade away they could become a great team again. Mendis, Dickwella, Chameera, Gunaratne, Sandakan, Gunathilka all have potential and will only get better with experience. Tharanga has been a gun recently as well in the last year or so and Matthews still has a few years left (injury prone but still young, may have to stop bowling though) and he is dangerous batsman. Malinga needs to go now though

 

[IcedEarth]

SL misses front line pacers. We have a front line spinner in Sandakan, all rounder in Gunarathne, and batting AR in Hasaranga de Silva. Slow bowling is covered. ASAP needs to bring in Lakmal, the steadiest of Sri Lankan bowlers. Nuwan Pradeep is fast developing in to a good seamer. On pitches with help he bowls some nasty jaffas. Issues are with the third seamer. Are we going to go for a steady medium pacer who could bat or a out and out fast bowler who can take wickets (as well as leak runs), is the question.