Image Credit- SLC
For the second time on this trip, Sri Lanka broke
through to reach their objective by scoring the winning runs with the final
delivery, depriving a determined Zimbabwean defence of a modest target. After a
chase in which Sri Lanka had been struggling to stay afloat, the innings ended
with a top-edged four off the bat of No. 9 Dushmantha Chameera and a chip into
the legside outfield.
In his first Twenty20 International since nearly three
years, Angelo Mathews played the most impressive Sri Lankan innings, scoring 46
off 38 to push the game to the limit. Dasun Shanaka hit significant boundaries
and remained undefeated with 26 off 18.
Their work surpassed the excellent all-around efforts
of Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza. Raza had amassed the most runs and best
statistics in the game after hitting 62 off 42 with the bat and then claiming 3
for 13 with the ball. But just as they had been defeated in the closing stages
of the second ODI earlier in the tour, Zimbabwe were left looking obviously
devastated once more.
With 61 runs off of 36 balls and no recognised hitters
remaining, the seasoned duo of Mathews and Shanaka joined forces at the end of
the 14th over. As a result, they had played wisely, setting clear boundaries
and limiting the requirement with thoughtfully chosen restrictions.
Sri Lanka required 12 runs in the last over, which was
delivered by the frugal Blessing Muzarabani. The spinner was punished for
missing his yorker when Mathews dug deep in his crease and clattered Muzarabani
down the ground for a one-bounce four on the opening delivery. Subsequently,
anticipating Muzarabani to take a short pass, Mathews remained low and executed
a lovely finish that split the keeper and the short third for an additional
four.
With just six balls left to spare, Muzarabani would
bowl a dot ball, forcing Mathews to hole out to deep midwicket in an attempt to
score the game-winning six.
What transpired thereafter was mostly coincidental.
Muzarabani went after Chameera’s body, and when the batsman swiped at the ball,
it took a top edge and flew past the wicketkeeper. The final ball was a fairly
full one that Chameera chipped to deep midwicket, and the hitters skittered
through the final two.