Colombo, Jan 6, Sat – Sri Lanka displayed the emergence of a world-class bowler in Dilshan Madushanka. The first ODI against Zimbabwe ended with no result due to rain, but Madushanka’s impactful performance left a mark on the game in a thrilling encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday night, .
After posting a challenging total of 272/9, Sri Lanka took the field with the duo of Madushanka and the speedster Dushmantha Chameera. The unique sight of both left-arm and right-arm pacers operating in tandem added excitement to the contest.
Facing overcast conditions, Madushanka utilized his trademark wicket-to-wicket bowling, swinging the ball masterfully on both sides. The left-arm pacer made an immediate impact by dismissing opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe on the very first delivery he faced, setting the tone for an impressive spell.
Continuing his fine form, Madushanka sent the opposition captain, Craig Ervine, back to the pavilion with an unplayable delivery that completely deceived the batsman. Sahan Arachchige took a sharp catch to end Ervine’s innings, showcasing Madushanka’s ability to extract swing in challenging conditions.
On the other end, Dushmantha Chameera applied pressure from the outset, conceding only a crucial maiden over and restricting Zimbabwe to just three runs in another. Unfortunately, rain intervened after just four overs into the Zimbabwe innings, resulting in a no-result finish for the first ODI.
Despite the weather playing spoilsport, Madushanka’s promising performance and Chameera’s tight bowling demonstrated Sri Lanka’s bowling skill. Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to the next match in the three-match Nippon Paint series, scheduled as a day-night encounter on January 8 at the same venue.