Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe, 2025 | 2nd ODI

A clinical performance from Sri Lanka and the trophy has been handed over to Charith Asalanka. His teammates join him as they pose for the cameras. That is all from this game. A rarity to see a two-match ODI series. We now turn our focus to the shortest format of the game. These two teams will meet again for a three-match T20I series. Join us on the 3rd of September at 11.30 am GMT for the series opener. You can join us early for the build-up as well. Cheers!

The skipper of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka, says it's an honour to lead the team over the line. Mentions both teams put in a strong performance to make it a thriller. Tells Pathum Nissanka's inning was impressive and they just talked about hitting the gaps and running hard. Appreciates the support and tells that they have support all over the world. He says that he told the players to maintain some positive intent out there in the middle and is happy with the overall team performance. Lauds the century from Pathum as well. And credits the local domestic circuit for new players coming into the team. Ends by thanking the Sri Lankan supporters who turned out at the ground.

Pathum Nissanka is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH and also the PLAYER OF THE SERIES. Nissanka shares that he is happy to have returned to form. Adds that he wanted to do well for the team and believed in himself to do the job. States that there was not much of a difference in terms of how the wicket played in this game as compared to the previous game. Admits that it was tough in the first Powerplay against experienced bowlers like Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.

The skipper of Zimbabwe, Sean Williams believes that there was a fine line that differentiated the result between the two teams. Credits Sri Lanka for their performance. Feels the middle order let them down a bit. Admits the chances that came their way would have changed the momentum of the game.

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Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka made a good decision to bowl first on a two-paced pitch. Apart from their fielding, where they dropped a couple of catches along with a few misfields, they executed their bowling plans to keep Zimbabwe at a par score. Although Zimbabwe scored 277, they left a few runs out there and would have easily accelerated in the middle phase but instead lost wickets which dampened their plans.

Zimbabwe came close in both games but lost in crunch situations. In this game, they had the chance to accelerate with the bat but instead lost wickets, while with the ball, they failed to hold onto their chances. Zimbabwean bowlers tried hard, but the fielders didn't back them up. Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans were the pick of the bowlers as they picked two wickets each, while Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams kept it tight in the middle phase. However, we feel Zimbabwe were slightly short of runs.

Sri Lanka were off to a watchful start. The openers, Pathum Nissanka and Nuwanidu Fernando, were patient in their build up and once the ball got soft, they went after the loose deliveries. Sri Lanka lost two wickets after the first Powerplay but Sadeera Samarawickrama came in clutch to play the helping hand to Pathum Nissanka, who looked in good rhythm up front. He smoked 16 boundaries on the road to his century while having some luck behind his back as he was dropped earlier in his innings. The majority of Sri Lanka's job was done by Pathum Nissanka but they required someone to play the finisher's role and the skipper stepped up to do the job. His innings was vital for the Lankan win. It was filled with a lot of running as boundaries were hard to come by and despite pulling his hamstring, Charith Asalanka's innings did the job for Sri Lanka.

A commanding performance by Sri Lanka and they have successfully clinched the series. It wasn't easy at all as Zimbabwe gave them a tough fight. They bowled really, really well but a few dropped catches and run out chances went away, which probably could be the only answer to their unsuccessful effort to the defence.

Kamindu Mendis comes in next with 6 runs needed in 7 balls.