COLOMBO: In Colombo, a remarkable 95-run innings by middle-order batsman Janith Liyanage turned the tide for Sri Lanka, leading them to a thrilling two-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the second ODI of their three-match series. Sri Lanka, chasing 209 for victory, faced a challenge from left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava, who caused trouble with his extra bounce and claimed the first four Sri Lankan wickets.
Ngarava’s career-best figures of five for 32 added pressure, but Sri Lanka found hope in a resilient 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Maheesh Theekshana and Liyanage. Though Liyanage fell just five runs short of a century, his 95 off 127 balls, studded with six fours and two sixes, provided a crucial backbone to the innings.
Despite the setback of Liyanage’s dismissal, Sri Lanka, needing 37 runs with two wickets remaining, found their heroes in Jeffrey Vandersay (19) and Dushmantha Chameera (18), who steered them to victory with an unbeaten 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
The match saw an interruption due to rain during Sri Lanka’s innings, but it resumed without any reduction in overs. Zimbabwe, after opting to bat first, faced a collapse from 182 for four to be all out for 209, losing their last six wickets for just 26 runs. Captain Craig Ervine’s notable 82-run contribution was cut short by a spectacular one-handed diving catch from Sadeera Samarawickrama at extra cover, triggering Zimbabwe’s downfall. Theekshana’s four wickets, supported by Chameera and Vandersay’s two wickets each, sealed a hard-fought victory for Sri Lanka.
