SRI LANKA beat Zimbabwe by just seven runs in a dramatic first ODI at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Chasing 299, Zimbabwe fought back bravely after a horror start but could not cross the line, finishing on 291 for eight in 50 overs.
Sri Lanka, batting first, posted 298 for 6 in 50 overs. Pathum Nissanka hit a classy 76 off 92 balls, while Janith Liyanage smashed an unbeaten 70 from 47 balls. Kamindu Mendis added quick runs with 57 off 36.
Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava bowled with control, taking 2 for 34, while Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza chipped in with a wicket each.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to the worst possible start. Brian Bennett fell to the very first ball, and Brendan Taylor followed three balls later. The scoreboard showed 0 for 2 after just four deliveries.
But Zimbabwe fought back. Ben Curran (70) and skipper Sean Williams (57) rebuilt with a 118-run stand for the third wicket. Curran pulled and drove with confidence, while Williams played fluent strokes before falling to Kamindu Mendis.
When both set batsmen departed, Zimbabwe were under pressure again. Wessly Madhevere added only eight before falling, leaving the hosts 161 for 5.
That’s when Sikandar Raza (92) and Tony Munyonga changed the game. Their sixth-wicket partnership of 128 runs lit up the ground and brought Zimbabwe back into contention. Raza’s innings was full of authority—he struck eight boundaries and kept the crowd believing.
With 33 needed from the last four overs, the game was on a knife’s edge. But Sri Lanka’s bowlers held firm. Asitha Fernando bowled a tight 49th over, leaving Zimbabwe to chase 10 from the final six balls.
The turning point came immediately. Raza, on 92 from 87 balls, was bowled by Dilshan Madushanka with a perfect yorker. His wicket silenced the home crowd. Madushanka then ripped through the tail, dismissing Brad Evans and Ngarava in successive deliveries to claim a stunning hat-trick.
Zimbabwe finished on 291 for 8 in 50 overs, just short of the target.
