Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka produced a stunning display with the ball in the final over, notching a hat-trick to seal a seven-run win against Zimbabwe.With the hosts requiring 10 runs to win here off the last six deliveries, Madushanka nabbed three wickets off the first three to tilt the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.
In doing so, he became only the third Sri Lanka bowler to nab multiple hat-tricks in ODI cricket, joining Lasith Malinga (3) and Chaminda Vaas in the exclusive club. Madushanka had claimed his first hat-trick in the format back in 2018 against Bangladesh.Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka got the visitors off to a good start, compiling 76 off 92 deliveries.He forged crucial partnerships alongside Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made handy contributions early on in the innings.
Sri Lanka’s push for a big total was then shouldered by Janith Liyanage (70 not out) and Kamindu Mendis (57), who scored at a brisk rate in the death overs and took the total to 298/6.In response, Zimbabwe were pegged back by two wickets in the first over with Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor both returning without scoring, an ICC report said.
Ben Curran and Sean Williams then added 118 runs for the third wicket – both scoring their fifties as Zimbabwe steadied the ship. But after they fell in quick succession, it was Zimbabwe’s star all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who took matters into his own hands.
Raza composed a resilient knock of 92 from 87 deliveries, keeping the scoreboard ticking as Zimbabwe took the chase deep.However, he was removed by Madushanka on the first ball of the last over, setting in motion Sri Lanka's comeback to seal the win.The two teams will square off in the second ODI on August 31 in Harare.(UNI)<>