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Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 5th Match

Sri Lanka won by 9 wkts
ZIM
146/5(20)
SL
148/1(16.2)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
So, the equation is clear for Sri Lanka now - Sri Lanka must win their final league match against Pakistan to reach the final otherwise, Pakistan will face Zimbabwe. Join us for the Pakistan v Sri Lanka clash day after tomorrow to catch all the thrill and excitement! Until next time, goodbye and cheers!
Dasun Shanaka: The confidence was there from the start, especially Theekshana, he took two wickets upfront. There are areas to develop in the bowling especially from myself, every other bowler did their job today. We need to polish all aspects of our game especially against a team like Pakistan. (On the weather being pretty chilly in Rawalpindi) We haven't played in this kind of weather, still we are managing, it doesn't matter how cold it is.
Sikandar Raza: I think we were slightly short. Overs 18 and 19 from Malinga and Chameera were top-class, and we couldn’t score many runs there. Even in the last over, we got two boundaries, but overall I thought we were a touch short. But we didn’t bowl well in the powerplay. In these conditions, the powerplay is really important because the ball is coming on, so you have to be on top of your game. In the poweplay, we didn’t bowl well. Even if we had 20 more runs, I don’t think it would have made much difference. I think we didn’t allow the ball to swing today. A lot of the balls were either too short or too full. We didn’t hit that four-to-six-meter length. We have enough data and stats that once you hit four to six meters, it stays. Today there was variable bounce, it was staying low, so it was hard to time. But when you bowl too full and too short, it becomes easy for them.
Pathum Nissanka | Player of the Match (Translated from Sinhalese): My plan was to play well in the powerplay where we struggled before, I was able to get through that and continue my batting. I analyzed a few areas where I was going wrong, I corrected those and it came off today. It's not easy to play all three formats and adapt to them. In the practice sessions, I practice differently for each format. (On his favourite six today) I think the scoop shot.
21:06 Local Time, 16:06 GMT, 21:36 IST: Sri Lanka get their act together tonight to notch up a clinical victory. 146 was never going to be enough on a decent batting surface and that proved to be the case. It was a disciplined bowling performance from the Sri Lankan bowlers to restrict Zimbabwe to an under-par score. In response, Nissanka took his side off to a flier. Kamil Mishara fell against the run of play but by then, SL were already cruising. The Zimbabwean spinners did apply a bit of brakes but there was no real scoreboard pressure on the Lankans as the duo of Nissanka and Mendis kept the scoreboard ticking along. Nissanka was quick to pounce on anything loose and he kept finding the boundaries at will. Mendis played the perfect foil to him as the duo took their side over the line with 22 balls to spare. Nissanka missed out on a well-deserved century but his unbeaten 98-run knock off 58 balls knocked Zimbabwe out of the game. Stick around for the presentations...
16.2
6
Ngarava to Nissanka, SIX, Nissanka finishes the game off in style but he misses out a century! He is standing there with a wide grin on his face. Looks like he miscalculated his score. Anyway, it has been a brilliant knock from Nissanka. Was on the shorter side on off, Nissanka lined it up and pulled it with authority over long leg for a maximum
16.1
4
Ngarava to Nissanka, FOUR, Nissanka moves into the nineties! He is toying with the field now! Shortish and room on offer, Nissanka stands tall and whacks it over wide mid-off for a maximum. That made a cracking sound off the bat
16.1
Ngarava to Nissanka, wide, a slower delivery but it goes awry. It's down leg, Nissanka swings at it but only meets thin air
Richard Ngarava [3.0-0-33-0] is back into the attack
16
4 6 1 1 2 1 (15 runs)
SL 137-1
Pathum Nissanka
88(56)
Kusal Mendis
25(25)
Brad Evans
4-0-36-1
15.6
Brad Evans to Nissanka, 1 run, short of length delivery on off, Nissanka rises on his toes and tucks it towards long-on to retain strike
15.5
Brad Evans to Nissanka, 2 runs, on a length on off, Nissanka hops and plays it with soft hands through mid-wicket. Picks up a couple of runs for doing so
15.4
Brad Evans to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, short of length delivery outside off, Kusal Mendis chops it through cover-point
15.3
Brad Evans to Nissanka, 1 run, in the air... but safe! Nissanka makes a bit of room and mistimes his slap-batted stroke. The fielder from sweeper cover runs to his right and in front but it lands short of him
15.2
6
Brad Evans to Nissanka, SIX, excellent from Nissanka! On a back of a length angling in on off, sits up nicely for Nissanka. He gets into a good position and swipes it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. He wants to finish it in a hurry
15.1
4
Brad Evans to Nissanka, FOUR, hit with authority! Pitched up delivery shaping in on middle, Nissanka stays leg-side of it and whacks it over mid-off for a rocketing boundary
Brad Evans [3.0-0-21-1] is back into the attack
Most 50-plus scores for SL in T20Is
19 - Pathum Nissanka
17 - Kusal Mendis
17 - Kusal Perera
14 - T Dilshan
15
1 1 2 0 1 L2 (7 runs)
SL 122-1
Kusal Mendis
24(24)
Pathum Nissanka
74(51)
Wellington Masakadza
3-0-19-0
14.6
Wellington Masakadza to Kusal Mendis, leg byes, 2 runs, quicker and flatter down leg, Kusal Mendis tries to swipe it across but it deflects off his thigh pad behind. Ngarava does well to move to his right and dive to stop certain runs for his side
14.5
Wellington Masakadza to Nissanka, 1 run, floated delivery on off, Nissanka slog sweeps it to deep mid-wicket
14.4
Wellington Masakadza to Nissanka, no run, on the shorter side outside off, Nissanka chops it to short third