Zimbabwe’s last-over heroics level series

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

In a nail-biting showdown at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Luke Jongwe and Clive Madande staged a sensational final-over performance against Sri Lanka clinching the second Twenty20 International. The dramatic conclusion resulted with both teams now level at 1-1.

Zimbabwe, opting to field after a thrilling loss in the first T20I game on Sunday, retained their lineup, while Sri Lanka made a change, bringing in Dilshan Madushanka in place of Nuwan Thushara.

Sri Lanka's top-order struggled, losing four early wickets for 27 runs in 4.4 overs against the Zimbabwe bowlers. However, Mathews and Asalanka orchestrated a remarkable comeback, setting a new Sri Lankan record for the fifth-wicket partnership with a 118-run stand in 79 deliveries. This surpassed the previous record of 86 runs set by Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa against Bangladesh in Sharjah in 2021.

Mathews, who showcased brilliance in the first T20I, remained unbeaten with 66 runs off 51 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes, marking his sixth half-century in T20I cricket. 

Asalanka crossed the 50-run mark for the fifth time, scoring 69 off 39 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes. Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 173 for six in 20 overs. Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe claimed two wickets each, while Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza took one wicket each.

In pursuit of the target, Dilshan Madushanka made an impact in his second over, dismissing Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for 12 runs. However, a resilient 74-run partnership between Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett for the second wicket put Sri Lanka under pressure. Mahesh Theekshana bowled out Bennett for 25 runs, and Sri Lanka's captain Wanindu Hasaranga struck in his last over, claiming the crucial wicket of Ervine, who scored 70 off 54 balls with six fours and two sixes. Zimbabwe needed 20 runs in the last over when captain Hasaranga turned to Angelo Mathews to defend the target. However, a game-changing moment occurred when Zimbabwe's Jongwe hit a six off the first ball of the 20th over, deemed a no-ball. Luke Jongwe and Clive Madande exhibited impressive batting, securing 24 runs in the first five deliveries of the last over. The historic win was sealed as Clive Madande struck a winning six. 
Despite the brilliant batting by Mathews, the decision to use a slow-medium pacer in the crucial final over faced criticism.

Luke Jongwe was the Player of the Match.

The third and final T20I is to be played at the same venue on Thursday.