Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
49 | 13 Runs | SL: 211/8 | RR: 4.30

  • Dushmantha Chameera18 (25b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay19 (18b)
  • Faraz Akram10-0-43-0
  • Blessing Muzarabani10-0-41-1

That brings us to the end of the proceedings from this thrilling low-scorer. Who would have thought that chasing even 209 would turn out to be a task on what was supposed to be a batting-friendly pitch, and with rain around? But Ngrava's maiden five-for showed Zimbabwe the way, only for them to barely fall short. That's it from us tonight, as we bid you goodbye and good night. Take care!

Ran: "I am Sri Lankan , but feel for Ngarava as he bowled brilliantly. "

Kusal Mendis, the winning captain, speaks in Sinhalese, and says he isn't too happy with how Sri Lanka batted. But he's satisfied with Liyanage's performance, and wants to improve in the future.

Craig Ervine: "We batted reasonably well. We had a decent platform, but couldn't cash in at the back end. We thought 240-250 was a decent score. Losing so many wickets in the back end put us back. Credit to them. Richie took his maiden five-for... Had we taken the chances, it could have been a different story."

Janith Liyanage is the Player of the Match for his 95: "The ball was moving a bit when I went to the middle. I thought if I could stay till the end, we could win. It was a bit tricky because the wicket was on the slower side, and the pace varied a bit. [It was] a bit tacky. We were behind on DLS [when I got out], so I thought if we could get four more runs."

Time for the presentations

Ash: "Didn't expect such an interesting game. Pity, I couldn't see it live."

Zubair Islam: "A real nail-biter. Thank God I don't belong to SL or Zim, otherwise could have been very tense"

10.48pm A topsy-turvy game that is eventually decided by a ninth-wicket partnership of 39 in 41 balls. A terrific lower-order resistance from Liyanage, Chameera and Vandersay give the hosts a 1-0 series lead. Don't forget Theekshana's contribution too with the bat, adding to his four-wicket haul that restricted Zimbabwe to 208 in the afternoon. A match to remember for Ngarava for his maiden five-wicket haul, but unfortunately for him, not in a winning cause. A terrific ODI. Himanshu shall bring the presentations shortly.

48.6
4
Faraz Akram to Chameera, FOUR, straight as an arrow! Slot ball on off. Chameera clubs it straight back, forcing the umpire to duck, and that's four to end the match. Sri Lanka win by two wickets
48.5
1
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, 1 run, knee-high full toss. Flicked to deep midwicket. They settle for one.
48.4
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, overpitched around off. Toe-ends a drive to the off side

only three to win.

48.3
4
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, FOUR, full ball around off. Driven beautifully, through the covers! The ball skids along the wet-ish carpet, and that's four in front of square.

Robbin: "Who says ODI format is dead! Reminiscent of 1990s times"

Zubair Islam : "Those two overs by Burl n zim batting full quota of overs were big errors, though Zim might still sneak through "

48.2
4
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, FOUR, whattay! Length ball around off stump. Vandersay moves to the off side and manages to open up the leg side before paddling a shot over short fine leg! Risky with the infielder in the circle, but enough in that shot to clear it
48.1
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, length ball around off. Drive attempted but hits the top-half of his bat

Eleven to win in 12 balls, with SL slightly ahead on DLS too in case the rain gets heavier.

END OF OVER:
48 | 3 Runs | SL: 198/8 (11 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.12, RRR: 5.50)

  • Dushmantha Chameera14 (24b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay10 (13b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani10-0-41-1
  • Tapiwa Mufudza7-0-38-0
47.6
0
Muzarabani to Chameera, no run, good length ball outside off. Chameera tries to play at it away from his body. Misses. Caught behind appeal! Turned down.
47.5
0
Muzarabani to Chameera, no run, short of a length ball aimed at Chameera's head. The tall man ducks under it

rain getting heavier. Heavier than when we had that first interruption. Zimbabwe need 1 magic ball for sure for a wicket. SL are ahead on DLS by a little bit

47.4
1
Muzarabani to Vandersay, 1 run, fullish ball outside off. Driven to deep extra cover for a single
47.3
0
Muzarabani to Vandersay, no run, short of length ball on middle and off. Goes for the pull. Misses

the second no-ball bowled by Muzarabani today. At a crucial time.

DLS par score at the end of the 48th over: 196

47.3
1nb
Muzarabani to Vandersay, 1 no ball, short of length ball on middle and off. Fends off the back foot. And it is a no ball. Free hit coming up
47.2
1
Muzarabani to Chameera, 1 run, full ball around off. Fended towards cover point and they scurry across for that single
47.1
0
Muzarabani to Chameera, no run, just past the outside edge! Fullish ball outside off and Chameera tried to poke at it

Muzarabani to bowl out.

END OF OVER:
47 | 4 Runs | SL: 195/8 (14 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.14, RRR: 4.66)

  • Jeffrey Vandersay9 (10b)
  • Dushmantha Chameera13 (20b)
  • Tapiwa Mufudza7-0-38-0
  • Faraz Akram9-0-30-0
46.6
0
Mufudza to Vandersay, no run, full ball around off stump. Defended off the front foot.

rain getting heavier

46.5
2
Mufudza to Vandersay, 2 runs, chipped to long off. Full ball outside off and hit down the V. Sri Lanka have snuck ahead on DLS now and there's a lot of cheer
46.4
1
Mufudza to Chameera, 1 run, low full toss around off. On-drive to wide long on

rain getting heavier

46.3
0
Mufudza to Chameera, no run, length ball just outside off. Pushed to midwicket's left but Shumba dives to keep it down to zero
46.2
0
Mufudza to Chameera, no run, full ball driven to mid on

Stat alert: Chameera is playing his 50th ODI today. Made his debut 8.5 years ago!

46.1
1
Mufudza to Vandersay, 1 run, full ball just outside off. Gently driven to long off for a single

END OF OVER:
46 | 4 Runs | SL: 191/8 (18 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 4.15, RRR: 4.50)

  • Dushmantha Chameera12 (17b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay6 (7b)
  • Faraz Akram9-0-30-0
  • Tapiwa Mufudza6-0-34-0
45.6
2
Faraz Akram to Chameera, 2 runs, full on leg. Flicked uppishly over the square-leg umpire but the fielders run around to keep it down to just two

Partnership of 17 in 21. If they repeat the same then SL will be almost home

45.5
1
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, 1 run, good length ball outside off. Flayed to deep extra cover. Just one
45.4
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, length ball. Nurdled to midwicket off his waist
45.3
0
Faraz Akram to Vandersay, no run, full ball outside off. Front-foot drive stopped by Ervine at cover by diving
45.2
1
Faraz Akram to Chameera, 1 run, full ball just outside off stump. Pushed gently to deep extra cover for a single
45.1
0
Faraz Akram to Chameera, no run, good length ball around off. Pushed to mid on, but can't get a single

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4BKG MendisWIA Fernando
2nd12BKG MendisS Samarawickrama
3rd35BKG MendisJ Liyanage
4th2J LiyanageKIC Asalanka
5th37J LiyanageSSD Arachchige
6th22MD ShanakaJ Liyanage
7th56J LiyanageM Theekshana
8th4PVD ChameeraJ Liyanage
9th39JDF VandersayPVD Chameera