POOR bowling by the Chevrons’ trusted lieutenant saw Zimbabwe throwing away their advantage in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

It became one of the many occasions where they seemingly had control of the game, but failed to kill it in the back end of their bowling innings.

They blew the chance to secure their first T20I win against Sri Lanka and their first on Sri Lankan soil.

After scoring a poor 143/5 in their 20 overs, Zimbabwe had control of the game, but failed to kill it.

In the last over, Blessing Muzarabani failed to defend 14 runs, conceding three boundaries, taking a wicket and a double run in the last ball of the match.

Captain Sikandar Raza top-scored for Zimbabwe with 62 runs off 42 balls, while Richard Ngarava extended his wicket-taking streak to 29 consecutive international matches.

There was nothing to write home about from the Chevrons’ batting unit besides a captain’s knock from Raza. The new skipper found his form again with the bat as he top scored for the Chevrons.

Opening batter, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe made 26 runs from 18 deliveries. An eight-ball 13-run cameo from Luke Jongwe helped Zimbabwe reach a decent score, which was still below par in 20 overs cricket.

Newly elected Sri Lanka T20 captain Wanindu Hasaranga finished with figures of 2/19 in his four-over spell, while Maheesh Theekshana also took two scalps for just 16 runs in four overs as well.

Zimbabwe had a brilliant start to their defence with the ever consistent Ngarava taking the wicket of Pathum Nissanka for just two runs to leave Sri Lanka on 2/1 in just the third ball of the match.

He would go on to finish with that solitary wicket for 34 runs in four overs, while Raza led from the front with the ball again, finishing with figures of 3/13 in his four overs.

Muzarabani claimed two scalps for 33 runs in four overs as well. Wellington Masakadza also took one wicket.

In the last over where it all went wrong for Zimbabwe, Muzarabani was hit for two consecutive fours before following it up with a wicket and a dot ball.

After the dot, Muzarabani went for four runs and the hosts went on to take two more runs to win the match. Angelo Matthews, playing his first T20I match in three years, top scored for Sri

Lanka with 46 runs off 38 balls.

The second match of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue. The game starts at 3.30pm (Zimbabwean time).