Mathews Shines As Sri Lanka Pull Off Last Ball Win Against Zimbabwe

Dushmantha Chameera (Image Source: Google)

Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a last ball thriller in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo on Sunday. Requiring six runs off the last two balls, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera smashed a boundary off the penultimate ball.

Then he pushed the last ball to square leg, scampering for two runs to keep Sri Lanka's unbeaten record against Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals intact.

Sri Lanka owed the win to 36-year-old former captain Angelo Mathews who, playing his first T20 International in almost three years, top scored with 46.

Mathews had last featured in a T20 international in March 2021, and was recalled to the side as Sri Lanka look to bolster the team with experienced players in the lead up to this year's T20 World Cup.

But Mathews paid tribute to Chameera.

"The best knock came from Dushmantha Chameera who scored those six runs in two balls," Mathews said.

"All our hard work would have been useless had he not connected."

Sri Lanka were 51 for four when Mathews walked out to bat, and added 32 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka.

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