Sri Lanka thrash hosts Zimbabwe, book World Cup spot
ZIMBABWE fell significantly short in their first attempt to qualify for the 2023 World Cup when Sri Lanka inflicted a massive nine-wicket defeat on the hosts at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.
It wasn’t to be for Zimbabwe on the day, but for Sri Lanka, who were simply brilliant throughout the match, it confirmed their participation at the showpiece event in India later this year.
You wouldn’t have imagined that Sri Lanka would come in hot like they did, especially having been rocked with news that spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was handed a demerit point for his behaviour in a recent match.
About two hours before the toss, the ICC announced that the tournament’s leading wicket-taker had been reprimanded for his violent reaction after his dismisal in Friday’s encounter against the Netherlands.
Luckily for the sub-continent team, that was the last bit of bad news they had to endure and from that point on, everything fell in to place for Sri Lanka.
Captain Dasun Shanaka started the day off by winning the toss and making the correct decision by bowling first in Bulawayo.
Shanaka quickly unleashed 22-year-old Dilshan Madushanka at the in-form Zimbabwe batters.
Known for his ability to take wickets up front, Madushanka made early inroads and struck three times to leave Zimbabwe on 30/3 seven overs into the match.
Despite only coming into the side four days ago as a replacement for the injured Dushmantha Chameera, Madushanka grabbed the big wickets of Joylord Gumbie for a duck, captain Craig Ervine and Wesley Madhevere.
A spirited 68-run partnership between Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza followed until Maheesh Theekshana, who until this match was uncharacteristically unsuccessful with the ball, found his groove and broke the partnership.
Shanaka accounted for Raza and from there on in it was the Theekshana show.
The mystery spinner helped bowl Zimbabwe out for 165 runs, taking 4/25 in the process and winning the Man of the Match award for his performance.
Zimbabwe only spent 32.2 overs batting and that left plenty of time for Shanaka to rally his troops to complete a flawless run-chase.
With a target of 166 in 300 balls, there were no doubt about the effect opener Dimuth Karunaratne was going to have on his batting partner Pathum Nissanka.
Karunaratne has an ability to read and understand precisely how to time a run-chase, especially with a low target on the board.
The pair put on 103 runs for the opening wicket and made the Zimbabwe bowlers sweat, spending almost 20 overs before getting their first wicket.
Uncharacteristically, Karunaratne skied a short ball and Brad Evans did the rest on the fine-leg boundary.
Nissanka carried on, smashing 14 boundaries on his way to a second one-day international career century.
The 25-year-old carried his bat and finished the chase unbeaten on 102 beside Kusal Mendis.
It is not all doom and gloom for South Africa’s neighbours though, as they have one last shot at qualifying for the World Cup.
They take on Scotland tomorrow to determine who will take the second and last World Cup qualification spot.
Should Zimbabwe win, they will face South Africa first up in the tournament in India, which is scheduled for October 5 to November 19.
Today, the Netherlands take on Oman in a must-win match.