Hasaranga’s Heroic Return: Sri Lanka Crushes Zimbabwe in One-Day Series with Dominant Performance – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)
Image source: © ICC 2023 | Courtesy of ICC | Media Zone Access by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka) (taken form media article from ICC: Hasaranga and Gardner voted ICC Players of the Month for June )
Wannindu Hasarsnga celebrated his return to international cricket after being sidelined with injury for eight months by wrecking Zimbabwe with a seven wicket haul in an eight wicket thrashing in Colombo.
Hasarsnga was almost unplayable, producing a mesmerising spell in which he claimed 7 for 19 off 5.5 overs, leaving the Zimbabwe batters all at sea as they crashed to 96 all out in 22.5 overs.
Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis then led the spirited run chase as they scurried to the under par target in 16.4 overs.
Image source: © ICC 2023 | Courtesy of ICC | Media Zone Access by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka) (Image taken form ICC media “Hasaranga shines again for Sri Lanka as Scotland kick on”
Mendis bludgeoned the Zimbabwe attack at will as he raced to 66 not out off 51 balls after Sri Lanka lost Avishka Fernando and debutante Shevon Daniel early.
Together with Sadeera Samarawickrema they steered Sri Lanka to a comfortable win and they clinched the one-day series 2-0 after the opening game was washed out.
The lowly Zimbabwean’s now need to negotiate a one off Test ans T20 series to take some pride back home.