Sri Lanka crush Zimbabwe

Leg-spin bowler Hasaranga de Silva became just the third bowler to take a hat-trick on his one-day international debut, as Sri Lanka came back strongly following Friday’s six-wicket defeat to beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the second match of the series on Sunday. 

After bowling Zimbabwe out for a mediocre 155, Sri Lanka reached the target (158 for 3) comfortably for the loss of Danushka Gunathilaka (), Kusal Mendis (0) and Niroshan Dickwella (35) by the 31st over. Upul Tharanga made his second half-century in the series, an unbeaten 75 while skipper Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten on 28 off 35 balls.

Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets that of Gunathilaka and Mendis in quick succession as early as the third over but their middle-order took Sri Lanka home without much trouble.

Earlier Sri Lanka bowled impressively to restrict Zimbabwe to a below-par score on a turning track with Hasaranga de Silva claiming a debut hat-trick. De Silva polished off the Zimbabwe tail in the 34th over by first bowling out Malcolm Waller (38) off the inside edge.

 He trapped Donald Tiripano in the next delivery and then bowled Tendai Chatara. His bowling backed up the effort by left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan who ran through the Zimbabwe batting line-up taking four wickets for 52, his career best bowling figures in one-day international cricket.

Only South African pacer Kasigo Rabada and Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam have taken hat-tricks on their one-day debuts previously.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and chose to field with his team under pressure having lost the first game by six wickets, their first ODI defeat against Zimbabwe at home.

Solomon Mire, who scored a century in Zimbabwe’s historic victory, was out for no score this time after being caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella from seamer Nuwan Pradeep.

Hamilton Masakadza the top scorer of the Zimbabwe innings was caught and bowled by Asela Gunaratne for 41 off 56 deliveries.

Waller, Craig Ervin (22) and Sean Williams (13) got starts but could not build on them.

Sandakan took the wickets of Ervin, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl and Peter Moor.

Zimbabwe Innings     

H. Masakadza               c&b Gunaratne           41 

S. Mire                    c Dickwella b Pradeep       0  

C. Ervine                  c Dickwella b Sandakan      22 

S. Williams                c Pradeep b Gunathilaka     13 

S. Raza                    c Pradeep b Sandakan        8  

R. Burl                    b Sandakan                  9  

M. Waller                  b Hasaranga                 38 

P. Moor                    b Sandakan                  11 

G. Cremer                  not out                     1  

D. Tiripano                lbw b Hasaranga             0  

T. Chatara                 b Hasaranga                 0  

Extras                     (b-1 lb-5 nb-2 w-4)         12 

Total                      (all out, 33.4 overs)       155

Fall of wickets: 1-11 S. Mire,2-67 H. Masakadza,3-74 C. Ervine,4-91 S. Raza,5-102 S. Williams,6-119 R. Burl,7-147 P. Moor,8-155 M. Waller,9-155 D. Tiripano,10-155 T. Chatara

Bowling              

Lasith Malinga             3 - 1 - 17 - 0(nb-1)           

Nuwan Pradeep              7 - 0 - 18 - 1                 

Dushmantha Chameera        5 - 0 - 23 - 0(w-2)            

Lakshan Sandakan           10 - 0 - 52 - 4(nb-1 w-2)      

Asela Gunaratne            5 - 0 - 15 - 1                 

Danushka Gunathilaka       1 - 0 - 9 - 1                  

Wanidu Hasaranga           2.4 - 0 - 15 - 3               

Sri Lanka Innings    

Niroshan Dickwella         c&b Cremer              35 

Danushka Gunathilaka       b Chatara                   8  

Kusal Mendis               c Moor b Chatara            0  

Upul Tharanga              not out                     75 

Angelo Mathews             not out                     28 

Extras                     (b-2 lb-2 nb-2 w-6)         12 

Total                      (for 3 wickets, 30.1 overs) 158

Fall of wickets: 1-9 D. Gunathilaka,2-10 K. Mendis,3-77 N. Dickwella

Did not bat: A. Gunaratne, W. Hasaranga, L. Malinga, N. Pradeep, D. Chameera, L. Sandakan

Bowling              

T. Chatara                 5 - 0 - 33 - 2(nb-2 w-2)       

S. Raza                    10 - 0 - 34 - 0                

D. Tiripano                1 - 0 - 6 - 0                  

G. Cremer                  9.1 - 0 - 46 - 1(w-1)          

S. Williams                3 - 0 - 20 - 0(w-2)            

R. Burl                    2 - 0 - 15 - 0                 

Referees             

Umpire: Nigel Llong                                       

Umpire: Ranmore Martinesz                                 

TV umpire: Ian Gould                                      

Match referee: Chris Broad                                

Result: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets