Sri Lanka registered a convincing 33-run win over Zimbabwe in their first warm-up game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 held today (11th October) at the MCG in Melbourne.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first on a batting friendly Melbourne surface.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa(w), Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Regis Chakabva(w), Craig Ervine(c), Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara
Sri Lanka’s regular T20I opening pair Mendis and Nissanka provided a blistering start to the innings adding 57 runs in 5.1 overs before the latter was dismissed after making 21 runs off 15 balls with 4 fours.
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Mendis went onto score 54 runs which came off 29 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 186.20.
After an excellent start, Sri Lanka lost momentum in the middle as they lost 3 quick wickets for 32 runs. Dhananjaya De Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunathilake all got starts with 17 runs each but couldn’t convert into big ones.
However, Wanindu Hasaranga who came to bat at No. 7, played a vital cameo, scoring a quick fire 37 runs off 14 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 264.28, helping Sri Lanka post a massive 188/5 in the allotted 20 overs.
After a heroic effort with the bat, Sri Lanka’s start with the ball wasn’t impressive as they conceded 54 runs in the first six overs, picking up only 1 wicket. But the Sri Lankan bowlers managed to pull things back taking 3 quick wickets for 20 runs, pushing the Zimbabwe batters onto the backfoot at 81/4.
Zimbabwe No. 3 batter Wesley Madhevere and No. 6 batter Milton Shumba tried to rescue their innings building a 51-run partnership for the 5th wicket but it wasn’t enough for them to cross over
Photos – Sri Lanka Team Departure for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
the line as the Sri Lankan bowlers kept putting pressure on the rest of the batters, bowling tight lines and lengths.
Maheesh Theekshana and seamer Chamika Karunaratne starred with the ball taking 2 wickets each for the islanders. Sri Lanka will play their next warm-up game against Ireland on the 13th October at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka – 188/5 (20) Kusal Mendis 54, Wanindu Hasaranga 37*, Pathum Nissanka 21
Zimbabwe – 155/5 (20) Wesley Madhevere 43, Milton Shumba 32, Craig Ervine 23, Regis Chakabva 20, Maheesh Theekshana 2/39, Chamika Karunaratne 2/26
Result – Sri Lanka won by 33 runs
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Craig Ervine b Brad Evans | 21 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Richard Ngarava b Ryan Burl | 54 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 186.21 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c Sean Williams b Sikandar Raza | 17 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 106.25 |
| Dhanushka Gunathilake | c Craig Ervine b Milton Shumba | 17 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 94.44 |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | c Clive Madande b Wesly Madhevere | 17 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 106.25 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 16 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 123.08 |
| Wanidu Hasaranga | not out | 37 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 264.29 |
| Extras | 9 (b 0 , lb 5 , nb 1, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 188/5 (20 Overs, RR: 9.4) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tendai Chatara | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 | |
| Richard Ngarava | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 | |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 13.50 | |
| Brad Evans | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 | |
| Wellington Masakadza | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | |
| Ryan Burl | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 6.50 | |
| Sikandar Raza | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 4.00 | |
| Sean Williams | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 | |
| Wesly Madhevere | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 8.00 | |
| Milton Shumba | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7.00 | |
| Luke Jongwe | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regis Chakabva | c Kusal Mendis b Chamika Karunaratne | 20 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Craig Ervine | b Maheesh Theekshana | 23 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 153.33 |
| Wesly Madhevere | -select- b | 43 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 102.38 |
| Sean Williams | c Bhanuka Rajapaksa b Maheesh Theekshana | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Sikandar Raza | c Dhananjaya de Silva b Chamika Karunaratne | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Milton Shumba | b Maheesh Theekshana | 32 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 128.00 |
| Ryan Burl | not out | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Tony Munyonga | not out | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 171.43 |
| Extras | 10 (b 1 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 8, pen 0) |
| Total | 155/5 (20 Overs, RR: 7.75) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 5 | 0 | 44 | 3 | 8.80 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 8.67 | |
| Wanidu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | |
 at the MCG in Melbourne.){kind=link}