Thrilling Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard — 2nd T20I at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 2024
Match Overview
The highly anticipated Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team match scorecard details a thrilling encounter from the Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2023-24. Played on January 16, 2024, at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, this 2nd T20I was a must-win game for both sides. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to exploit the evening dew and put early pressure on the home side.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 173/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a resilient fightback after a shaky start. However, the Zimbabwean batters showed immense character in the run chase. Chasing a target of 174, Zimbabwe reached 178/6 in 19.5 overs, securing a dramatic victory by 4 wickets with just 1 ball remaining.
The Player of the Match was awarded to Luke Jongwe, who delivered a match-winning all-round performance, claiming 2 crucial wickets for 32 runs and smashing an unbeaten 25 off just 12 balls to guide his team home. This result leveled the 3-match T20I series at 1-1, setting the stage for a thrilling decider.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Sri Lanka Innings
Sri Lanka’s batting lineup faced early trouble, losing three quick wickets in the powerplay. However, a brilliant counter-attacking innings by Charith Asalanka and a steady, mature knock from Angelo Mathews helped the hosts recover and post a defendable total.
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Jongwe b Muzarabani | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Kusal Mendis† | c Burl b Jongwe | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kusal Perera | c Burl b Muzarabani | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | c †Madande b Masakadza | 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Williams b Jongwe | 69 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 176.92 |
| Angelo Mathews | not out | 66 | 51 | 6 | 2 | 129.41 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Burl b Ngarava | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 225.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga(c) | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 7) | 8 | ||||
| Total | 173/6 | 20 |
Did not bat: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
The Sri Lankan bowling attack fought hard to defend the total. While Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs, the Zimbabwean lower order proved too aggressive to contain in the final stages.
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Charith Asalanka | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 10.25 |
| Angelo Mathews | 1.5 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 19.09 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Zimbabwe Innings
Zimbabwe’s chase was a rollercoaster. After losing early wickets, Craig Ervine played a captain’s knock to stabilize the innings. The match ultimately came down to the final over, where Luke Jongwe and Clive Madande unleashed a flurry of boundaries to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tinashe Kamunhukamwe | c Hasaranga b Madushanka | 12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 92.30 |
| Craig Ervine | c Theekshana b Hasaranga | 70 | 54 | 6 | 2 | 129.62 |
| Brian Bennett | b Theekshana | 25 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Sikandar Raza(c) | c Samarawickrama b Chameera | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Sean Williams | b Theekshana | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Ryan Burl | c †Mendis b Chameera | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 144.44 |
| Luke Jongwe | not out | 25 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 208.33 |
| Clive Madande† | not out | 15 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 300.00 |
| Extras | (lb 2, nb 2, w 5) | 9 | ||||
| Total | 178/6 | 19.5 |
Did not bat: Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava.
Zimbabwe Bowling Figures
Zimbabwe’s bowlers executed their plans perfectly in the powerplay, reducing Sri Lanka to 31/4. Blessing Muzarabani and Luke Jongwe were the standout performers, striking early and breaking crucial partnerships to keep the home team in check.
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Luke Jongwe | 2 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 16.00 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 |
| Sean Williams | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 8.00 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
This cricket match will be remembered as a classic T20 thriller, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the shortest format.
Top Batting Performance:
For Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka was the standout batter. Walking in at a precarious 27/4, he played a breathtaking innings of 69 runs off just 39 balls, laced with 5 fours and 3 towering sixes. His strike rate of 176.92 completely shifted the momentum. For Zimbabwe, Captain Craig Ervine led from the front with a masterful 70 off 54 balls, providing the much-needed stability during the middle overs when wickets were falling at regular intervals.
Top Bowling Performance:
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, using his variations cleverly to claim 2 wickets for 25 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Brian Bennett. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani’s early spell was devastating, removing both openers and setting the tone for the innings with figures of 2/36.
Turning Point of the Match:
The definitive turning point was the 20th over of the Zimbabwean innings. Defending 20 runs, Sri Lanka needed a miracle. However, Luke Jongwe and Clive Madande had other plans. Jongwe smashed a six and a four in the over, while Madande contributed a flurry of boundaries. Their fearless approach under immense pressure broke the Sri Lankan bowlers’ nerve, resulting in a last-ball victory.
Records & Milestones:
This victory was historically significant as it leveled the 3-match T20I series at 1-1. It also highlighted Zimbabwe’s growing reputation as a formidable chasing team in T20 cricket, capable of defeating top-tier nations in high-pressure situations.
Head-to-Head Record
The historical rivalry between these two nations has always been competitive. Below is the head-to-head record in T20 Internationals leading up to this series:
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the match?
A: The Zimbabwe national cricket team won the match by 4 wickets, successfully chasing down the target in the final over.
Q: Who was Player of the Match?
A: Luke Jongwe was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 25 off 12 balls and taking 2 wickets for 32 runs.
Q: What was the match result?
A: Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets with 1 ball remaining, scoring 178/6 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 173/6.
Q: When and where was the match played?
A: The match was played on January 16, 2024, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Q: What is the current series score?
A: Following this match, the 3-match T20I series was leveled at 1-1, setting up a thrilling final decider match.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Zimbabwe national cricket team match scorecard from this 2nd T20I perfectly encapsulates the drama and excitement of modern cricket. Despite a strong recovery led by Asalanka and Mathews, Sri Lanka’s bowlers could not defend a modest total against a determined Zimbabwean lower order. Luke Jongwe’s heroic finish will be etched in the memories of cricket fans for years to come. This result ensured the series went down to the wire, proving that in T20 cricket, no total is truly safe until the final ball is bowled. Fans eagerly awaited the series decider to see which team would ultimately claim supremacy.
