Pathum Nissanka’s sublime 122, backed by Charith Asalanka’s fighting 71, carried Sri Lanka to a nervy yet decisive five-wicket win in Harare, completing a 2-0 ODI series sweep over Zimbabwe and reaffirming their dominance in crunch run-chases.
Sri Lanka 278 for 5 (Nissanka 122, Asalanka 71, Ngarava 2-53) beat Zimbabwe 277 for 7 (Curran 79, Raza 59*, Chameera 3-52) by five wickets
Where Zimbabwe faltered earlier in the series, Sri Lanka delivered in style. Set a target of 278 in the second and final ODI in Harare, the visitors crossed the line with five wickets and three balls to spare, sealing a 2-0 clean sweep.
Much like the first ODI, this contest went down to the wire. Sri Lanka seemed in control throughout the chase but still made life harder than necessary by waiting until the 48th over to score their first boundary in the final powerplay. At one point, 12 runs were needed off the last 12 balls before a flurry of boundaries and a nervy finish wrapped up the victory.
Asalanka struck a crucial 71 off 61, combining with Nissanka in a game-breaking 90-run partnership that anchored the chase. Even after his dismissal, Kamindu Mendis’ unconventional inside edge for four off a pinpoint yorker eased the pressure before Sri Lanka sealed the win.
Nissanka’s innings of 122 off 136 balls was the backbone of the chase. His strokeplay during the powerplay kept the required rate in check, while his ability to find boundaries in the middle overs ensured Sri Lanka always had control. His efforts earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
Zimbabwe’s 277 was built on Ben Curran’s composed 79 and Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 59, but wickets at key moments stalled their momentum. Sri Lanka’s disciplined middle-overs bowling, especially through Charith Asalanka’s surprise spells and Dushmantha Chameera’s timely breakthroughs, restricted Zimbabwe from posting a more imposing total.
Despite Zimbabwe’s late fightback, Sri Lanka’s superior partnerships in the middle overs proved decisive. With this series sweep, the visitors not only showcased resilience under pressure but also underlined the depth in their batting lineup, setting a confident tone for future challenges.
