By Srian Obeyesekere

Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka powered his way to a brilliant Player of the Match century 122 off 136 balls, his seventh in ODIs, slamming 16 boundaries and skipper Charith Asalanka 71 off 61 with 7 boundaries as Sri Lanka ground Zimbabwe to an emphatic 5-wicket triumph at the Hrare Sports Club Grounds yesterday overhauling a challenging 278 to sweep the 2 match ODI series in overcoming a resilient opposition which though lacked the finishing firepower to convert what were more than formidable scores in both of the 2-match series, the Lankans having also pipped Zimbabwe at the post in the first game by 7 runs in a dramatic finish fired by pacer Dilshan Madushanka’s hat-trick.

The Lankan chase having put the hosts in to bat first, rose from modest upfront starts of 48 for 1 consuming 10.1 overs and 68 for 2 after 14.2 as Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama 31 off 46 with 2 boundaries steadied it to 146 for 3 after 30.1 by a 78 third-wicket piecing from where the literal final charge took off by the Nissanka-Asalanka fourth-wicket realization of 90 off 86 ball flurry when Nissanka’s great innings ended in the third delivery of the 44th over with Sri Lanka within striking reach requiring a further 42 off 36 balls. Samaraweera was accounted for by Masuku who had him caught by Sikandar Raza.

Skipper Charith Asalanka went the ultimate distance falling with just 6 runs away from victory showcasing a typically characteristic captain’s answer to the call to carrying his side through having added a further 36 off 32 together with Janith Liyanage on 19 who did the rest in the company of Kamindu Mendis on 5.

Upfront, Nuwanidu Fernando, injury replacement for Nishan Madushka, was bowled for 14 by Brad Evans and Kusal Mendis, the 76-run top scorer in the first fell for just 5 facing 10 balls, another Evans victim snapped up by Curran.
Zimbabwe’s faultless 277 for 7 off 50 overs outdone by the century flair of Pathum Nissanka and Captain Cool effect of Charith Asalanka in the final analysis, as it is took off contrastingly livelier on 1 for 55 in 9.4 overs 116 into 23.4 with Ben Curran scripting a game opener’s role 79 off 95 filled with 9 boundaries as he watched co-opener Brian Bennet bowled by quick Dushmantha Chameera for 21off 29 and Brendan Taylor caught by Chameera off Janith Liyanage for 20 off 37. the 92-run mainstay in the first game, once again came to the fore striking an unbeaten 59 off 55 with 5 boundaries and a six as wickets fell around him. He added 39 for the third wicket with Curran who fell on the mark of 150 after 31.1 overs with Clive Madande joining Raza in a redeeming 98 seventh wicket alliance when the former was bowled by Chameera for a run a ball 36 with 4 boundaries as Raza carried his bat to a valiant end in that lost cause.

Veteran pacer Dushmantha Chameera with returns of 3 for 52 from his 10 overs rode to his best performance after a long injury lay off comeback with the spot on Asitha Fernando 2 for 67 and the previous hat-trick hero Dilshan Madushanka 1 for 57 with Janith Liyanage 1 for 36.

Chief Scores
Zimbabwe 277/7 (50 Overs)
Ben Curran 79, Sikandar Raza n.o. 59, Clive Madande 36, Brian Bennett 21, Brendan Taylor 20, Sean Williams 20, Dushmantha Chameera 3/52, Asitha Fernando 2/67, Janith Liyanage 1/36, Dilshan Madushanka 1/57.
Sri Lanka 278/5 (49.3 Overs)
Pathum Nissanka 122, Charith Asalanka 71, Sadeera Samarawickrama 31, Janith Liyanage n.o. 19, Nuwanidu Fernando 14, Kamindu Mendis n.o. 5, Brad Evans 2/54, Richard Ngarava 2/53, Ernest Masuku 1/32.