Sri Lanka seals 2-1 T20I series with eight-wicket win in Harare

Sri Lanka completed a clinical chase to win the three-match Twenty20 international series against Zimbabwe 2-1, defeating the hosts by eight wickets with 14 balls to spare in the decider at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, September 7. Asked to bat, Zimbabwe posted 191 for 8 before Sri Lanka’s middle order, led by Kamil Mishara, guided the tourists to 193 for 2 in 17.4 overs to seal the series.

Zimbabwe’s innings was built around Tadiwanashe Marumani, who made 51 off 44 balls, and late cameos from Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl that pushed the total past 190. Dushan Hemantha removed key batters for Sri Lanka in the middle overs but Dushmantha Chameera and others were unable to prevent the hosts from posting a competitive score. Match reports credited Hemantha with three wickets for Sri Lanka as he sought to stifle Zimbabwe’s late acceleration.

Sri Lanka’s reply got off to a brisk start with Pathum Nissanka contributing 33 off 20 and Kusal Mendis adding 30 off 17 to take the visitors to 58 inside the powerplay. The chase was settled by an unbeaten 117-run partnership between Kamil Mishara and Kusal Perera, the stand reported as the highest third-wicket partnership in Sri...