Harare has staged its fair share of thrillers since Sri Lanka’s maiden visit in 1994. Nestled picturesquely in the heart of the city, next door to the presidential palace, the ground is a magnet for VVIPs even on non-match days. On Friday, the spotlight fell squarely on Dilshan Madushanka, who held his nerve to deliver a last over for the ages.
By and large, it had been a day to forget for the left-arm quick. The same bowler who rattled batsmen at the 2023 World Cup in India looked a shadow of himself, coughing up full tosses and wides. Making his first appearance for Sri Lanka in 2025, he had leaked 60 runs from his opening nine overs. Yet cricket, that game of glorious uncertainties, turned on its head when Charith Asalanka, out of options with his strike bowlers spent, tossed Madushanka the ball for the final over with only ten runs to defend.
The odds were stacked against Sri Lanka. A sixth-wicket stand of 128 between Sikandar Raza and Tony Munyonga had carried Zimbabwe to the cusp of victory. But Madushanka, battered and bruised, struck gold. With an off-side field packed, he nailed the yorker. Raza shuffled across only to see his stumps knocked back.
Brad Evans came next and tried a cheeky scoop but found short fine leg. Suddenly Madushanka was on a hat-trick. Tail-ender Richard Ngarava was greeted with a fast, straight bullet and the bowler etched his name in the record books as only the eighth Sri Lankan to the milestone — joining an elite club headed by Lasith Malinga (three hat-tricks) and Chaminda Vaas (two).
With Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando firing on all cylinders, Sri Lanka know the left-arm variation of Madushanka could be invaluable with the Asia Cup looming. In Harare’s opener, he emerged the most unlikely of heroes, regaining his confidence by nailing an over bowled under pressure.
There was another silver lining. At long last, Sri Lanka appear to have found a settled ODI template, fielding seven proper batsmen rather than banking heavily on all-rounders. Of those seven, three can turn their arms over, giving the captain welcome flexibility.
Still, the batting nearly imploded. At 161 for five in the 37th over, Sri Lanka looked destined for another familiar collapse, barely eyeing 250. Instead, Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage stitched together a sixth-wicket stand that pushed them close to the 300 mark, both posting fighting half-centuries. In the death overs, the pair showcased the fruits of hard yakka with power-hitting coach Julian Wood. Both cleared the ropes by going straight, a sign of training drills paying dividends.
The only nagging question is when Pavan Rathnayake, churning runs in domestic cricket, will be unleashed. Sunday’s game may yet hand the youngster his long-awaited debut.
Sri Lanka have made giant strides in ODIs over the past 12 months, beating Australia this year and India last year. With Pakistan and England challenges around the corner, the next six months will be a solid tune-up for the long road to the 2027 World Cup.
