SL VS ZIM 3RD ODI

Right then. Sri Lanka started the series with the win and ended with a win to add a trophy to their cabinet. Dasun Shanaka picks up the trophy and the team strides in to celebrate with the skipper. All the players are beaming. They also ask the staff members and the coaches to join them for a group picture and the crowd erupts in joy. So we are done with this series. That's it from the coverage of this series. Do keep an eye out for other fixtures coming your way. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Dasun Shanaka, the victorious skipper, says that they played really well and winning the toss was very crucial. Adds that 270 was ideal and they thought they were 20 runs short but their spinners did really well. Adds that he tried hard to work his fitness after getting covid but he is happy to help his team and score runs. Tells that it is a really good sign for Sri Lankan cricket. Ends by thanking the crowd who came and helped them with their support.

Craig Ervine, the Zimbabwe skipper, is for a chat. He says, they did put up some good show in the previous matches and is disappointed with the way they have ended the series here. Mentions, the opening partnership is a huge positive to take back from the series.

Pathum Nissanka wins the Man of the Series award for his exceptional effort top of the order. He says, he is very pleased to win this award. Adds that he enjoys opening and he adjusted from being a middle order batter. Mentions that the coaches have done well to show faith in him and he makes sure to work hard for it.

Charith Asalanka wins the Man of the Match award for his brilliant effort with the blade. He says, it was a good innings and is really about the same because they are on the winning side now. Mentions, it was a tricky pitch to bat on and only aimed to bat out for long and is glad could do the same.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Earlier in the innings, after opting to bat first. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start. But later, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and only managed to put up 254 runs on the board and one would’ve thought Sri Lanka were 20-30 runs short. But no one knew what was coming up. With the deck offering a lot for the spinners. The hosts pounced on the opportunity and bundled out Zimbabwe for just 70 runs.

The bowlers were on song for Sri Lanka from the word go. The bowlers showed discipline and intensity with the ball. The way Chameera started with the new ball was impressive, he pulled the handbrake for the Zimbabwe innings. After being in the wilderness for a while, Jeffrey Vandersay could not have expected a better outing. He was the pick of the bowlers with a four-wicket haul and has made a statement on his comeback into the side. The spinners caused a lot of trouble in the middle overs and took the game away from the visitors. Dushmantha Chameera and Ramesh Mendis ended the game with a brace. While, Maheesh Theekshana and Chamika Karunaratne picked up a wicket each.

There is nothing to write about the batting side to be honest. Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble from the very start. They lost two wickets in the second over on consecutive deliveries and since then the graph has only seen a downward fall. No one apart from Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Ryan Burl got into double figures and that sums up the innings for Zimbabwe.

A dominating performance by the hosts, they have sealed the series in this deciding fixture quite convincingly. One would have thought that Zimbabwe could put up a good fight and make the Sri Lankans earn their victory here, but it turned out to be really bad for the visitors and were outplayed here by the home side.

OUT! TAKEN! There it is! Sri Lanka win the series! This is full and on middle. Richard Ngarava looks to heave it but hits it off the inner half of the bat towards short mid-wicket where Maheesh Theekshana takes a sharp catch. Sri Lanka win by 184 runs.

Googly, fuller and on middle. Richard Ngarava blocks it out. Survived.

Richard Ngarava is the last man in.

OUT! LBW! This should be the final nail in the coffin, as Burl has been sent back after a really good defensive play in the middle. Tossed up, full and on off. Burl looks to defend it out but misses and gets pinged on the pads. This is plumb, Jeffrey Vandersay appeals and the umpire raises his finger in a flash. Burl knows he has to walk back but still opts for the review and hopes for a miracle to save him. The Ball Tracker shows three reds and he is a goner.

On leg, Burl defends it to the leg side.

And he does survive! Quicker, full and outside off. Tendai Chatara looks to chase it initially but pulls his blade back it time.

Floated, full and outside off. Burl drives it through covers for a single. Tendai Chatara needs to survive a single ball now.