Sri Lanka Snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
Source:Thuppahis
First 50-Over ODI in Harare is a Nailbiter
… followed by this Thuppahiyaaa on ball-by-ball script in ESPN ……………… With one MADUSHANKA producing a hat trick in Over no 50 to complement Asitha Fernando’s superb over no 49
49.6
PK: “This is the danger of not giving it some serious welly in the 45-49 overs.
49.5
Wide yorker, misses and Sri Lanka are home free!
Boundary needed here, and nothing else.
Odinlass : “Hahahaha! My word! This is outrageous!”
49.3
Hattrick for Madushanka! Talk about your redemption arcs, a forgettable day is fast becoming one to be etched in stone! This was quick and straight and Ngarava had no choice but to swing at it. Too good for him though, far too good
49.2
Two in two! Full outside off, looks for the scoop but it can’t clear short fine who peddles back and holds on smartly! Harare is silenced.
abhi : “Had to jinx him Hayes”
49.1
Oh my word, he’s crushed middle stump! Big gaps on the onside and Raza moves across looking to sweep this for four. But this a yorker on the base of middle stump. And quick. Raza has to trudge of desolately
48.6
Follows Munyonga with a yorker that just misses leg stump, Munyonga can’t connect
The floodlights have come on.
Priyank: “Last few years, Raza has contributed to Zimbabwe by a lot. True fighter. In current age any player will not have hunger to play for national team and would be happy to just play for franchise cricket. Specially, when you are playing for struggling team.”
48.5
short and slow, pulled away to deep midwicket. Just a single
Matthew: “Love matches like these. SL’s fireworks with the bat at the end vs Zimbabwe’s measured repair job after being 0/2. Best kind of match.”
48.4
full toss on the pads, whipped away onside for a single
48.3
Another yorker, looks to push it back past Asitha but can’t get it clear
Matthew: “Love matches like these. SL’s fireworks with the bat at the end vs Zimbabwe’s measured repair job after being 0/2. Best kind of match.”
48.2
Superb yorker, can’t get it away, but they still get single
48.1
full and slow, but Raza is waiting for it! Punts it over mid-off! This was beautifully struck, does so well to get under that
Asitha to bowl the 49th. SL’s overrate is also slow, and they have been penalised – extra fielder in the circle now.
AE: “I am not convinced this is ZIM game here. Both sides are tensed, both could use a breather. That being said Raza is the only thing standing between victory and defeat for either teams.”
47.6
another wide yorker, dabbed into the offside. Takes the single and crucially keeps the strike
47.5
Outstanding from Raza! Wide yorker cum full toss, but Raza has opened his face and powered this fine, beating the man on the third man ropes
47.4
Excellent running! Bottom edge on the yorker, Kusal has the gloves off in a flash and throws down the striker’s stumps. But Raza is already there
Rahmath: “Didn’t drop the catch but dropped the match” — those are the worst.
47.3
Excellent yorker, play and miss outside off
Rod: “Munyonga has hit just the one boundary yet still has 80 odd strike rate. Heavy, heavy strike rotation in this partnership”
47.2
skips down the ground but Chameera keeps it full, play and a miss
47.1
full outside off, opens the face and guides it down to deep third for one
24 needed from 18, you have to say advantage Zimbabwe.
46.6
Another short one pulled away, into space and they get a second. Direct hit, but Raza is too experienced not to have slid the bat in
46.5
short and pulled deep backward square leg, just a single
Rambo: “Game’s on a knife’s edge: 2 very well set batters with a decent hitter in Evans to follow vs veteran SL quicks with guile to thwart their plans. It’s Zimbabwe to lose now, but Raza’s wicket will almost take SL through.”
46.4
full and straight, dragged down to wide long-on for two more
46.3
Dropped! What a moment in the game. This was short and slow and Munyonga has slapped this high towards Nuwanidu Fernando on the boundary at deep cover. This was as easy as you like, but he’s let it through. Three runs off the ball as well!
46.2
full and straight, looks to heave this on the onside. Inside edge into the pads and the steal a run
Kasinathan: “Please don’t publish any comment jinxing Raza.” — No promises.
short of a length slower one outside off, swing and a miss
Here’s Asitha
Ritesh: “This is a tremendous partnership of 100 runs in 93 balls with only 6 boundaries between the two of them. A masterclass in ODI batting.”
45.6
another wide yorker, squeezed down to deep third
45.5
wide yorker, looks to steer this behind square, but can’t connect
45.4
Full toss just below waist high, and punished! Didn’t try to overhit this. Short-arm jab between midwicket and long-on.
45.3
Full and wide, goes straight up as he looks for the big hit. But it falls safely straight of mid-off. They get a single and it also brings up the 100 stand! What a partnership this has been so far
45.2
another one full and wide, hangs a bat out and squeezes this past short cover for a couple
45.1
full and wide, looks to guide this past a very fine short third but it’s straight at the man. They steal a single
Here’s Chameera. Big, big over.
Calvin: “Nivas, that jinx won’t work “
44.6
full and straight, driven to long-off for one
44.5
length outside off, play and a miss
44.4
length on the stumps, slapped to long-off
44.3
length on the stumps, backs away and eases it into the covers for one
44.2
backs away and drills this to the left of long-off now, but Nissanka does very well to save the boundary
44.1
good length on off, driven hard but just a single down to long-off
Nivas : “It’s a phenomenal comeback from Zim after losing two wickets for zero. If they go on to win this game, it will tremendously boost their confidence “
