That a game Zimbabwe haue dragged the 3-match ODI Series from a 1 down oblivion to unleashing an explosive winning 300 plus total in outplaying hosts Sri Lanka to levelling it 1-all has indeed lent a pre-match showdown intensity to tomorrow’s final playout at the Pallekelle International Stadium. The reversal in that pendulum swing has thrust Craig Irvine’s team on a high sitting pretty in an insulation of looking the favourites to pull it off going by their clinical display in the second game.

Comparatively, Zimbabwe’s batting performances in both games underlined a sounder and better organised top order. Even in the lost opening game the batting was faultless, the difference being that the Lankans were spot on in going past 296. But failure in the next one with the exception of the ton up skipper Dasun Shanaka has been undermining where the top order came apart.

In that throwback, Sri Lanka will be driven to a quick fix to the top order of getting the crucial run making act well oiled, Given Zimbabwe’s spick and span batting line up, there cant be room for let ups in the Lankan top order. The name of the game will be ‘run accumulation’ on disciplined stroke-play. Therein, they will need to take an example from their 300 plus act where Shanaka’s team won and won chasing in the first game.