SL vs ZIM Ball by Ball Commentary

Sri Lanka WIN! They needed 2 runs off the final ball and Dushmantha Chameera has done it! Slower length ball around off, Dushmantha Chameera goes through with the shot and heaves it toward the mid-wicket region. The ball lands away from the fielder and the batters complete the second. Sri Lanka chased this down off the final ball and win by 3 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in this three-match series.

FOUR! Sri Lanka are alive as they need 2 off the last delivery. Short-pitched body bound, Dushmantha Chameera swings at it and catches the outside edge lobbing it over the keeper for a boundary behind the wicket. It landed inches inside the boundary line.

OUT! This game is swinging like a pendulum. Good-length delivery in the line of stumps, Angelo Mathews moves a bit too much to his leg as he throws his bat at it and single-handedly lofts this down the throat of Wellington Masakadza at the deep mid-wicket fence. Sri Lanka needs 6 off the last 2.

A dot is as worthy as gold here. Short-pitched delivery on middle, Angelo Mathews looks to shuffle and strike but fails to get any part of his bat behind this one.

FOUR! Resounding Premadasa, to say the least. Back of a length angling in towards the batter, Angelo Mathews moves to his leg and opens the bat face running it down the fence at third man for a boundary. Sri Lanka are one hit away from victory now.

FOUR! Perfect start to the over for Lanka. Over-pitched around middle and leg, Angelo Mathews thump it back past the bowler for a boundary straight down the ground. 10 needed now.

FOUR! Dasun Shanaka delivers! The ex-captain is proving something for the team! Fuller delivery on middle. Dasun Shanaka shuffles and scoops it over the short fine for a boundary.

Low full toss outside off. Dasun Shanaka tries to slog it away but digs it out at the end. The bowler dives and stops while completing the follow-through.

WIDE! Sharp bouncer on the leg. Dasun Shanaka shuffles a bit but ducks down at the end. But Zimbabwe took review as they thought they got something from the bat. But there is no contact on the bat and it stays wide.

FOUR! Much needed for the Lankans! Richard Ngarava tries for a yorker but ends up bowling a full toss, just outside off. Dasun Shanaka whips it hard and drills it towards the left of deep cover for a boundary.

Absolute peach! Yorker length delivery, just outside off. Dasun Shanaka tries to block it out but misses the connection. The ball goes straight to the keeper.

Fuller now on the stumps. Angelo Mathews flicks it towards the deep mid-wicket. But the Lankans need to go big.

Short delivery on off, angling out. Dasun Shanaka tries to pull it but miscues it towards the mid off for a single.

WIDE! Not a good start for Richard Ngarava! Fuller delivery way wide outside off. Dasun Shanaka tries to reach but leaves at the end.

Fuller one, on off, Shanaka knocks it to long off for one more. 26 needed off 12 now!

Well bowled! Full and on middle, Mathews looks to flick it but miscues it to point for one.

Too full, on off, Shanaka drives it to deep covers for one. Good fielding near the fence!

Excellent delivery! Took off the pace, and outside off, Shanaka looks to pull this one but misses it completely.

Slower one on leg, Mathews wleases it to mid on for one.

FOUR! Cheeky from Mathews! Good length, on off, Mathews moves to his right and plays a lap sweep over short fine for a boundary!

Full and hung outside off, Mathews drives it to deep covers for one. 34 needed off the last three overs now!

A single this time as this is flicked away towards the mid-wicket region.

FOUR! Second boundary in the over! Short, on middle, Shanaka rocks back and tugs it through mid-wicket as the ball finds the fence in a flash!

Back of a length in middle, Angelo Mathews punches it past the bowler for a single as long off cuts it to one.

Off pace, close to the stumps. Shanaka leans forward and tips it to mid off for one.

FOUR! Cuts it beautifully! Short and wide, Shanaka makes room and cuts it through backward point as the ball races away!

Sharp bouncer on middle. Angelo Mathews tries to pull it but misses the connection.

FOUR! Edged and yet again a boundary! Angelo Mathews is getting lucky over here! Short delivery outside off. Angelo Mathews looks to work to his leg side and gets thick outer edge of his bat. The ball flies to the right of the keeper for a boundary.

FOUR! Edge but enough for a boundary! This one is short and outside off. Angelo Mathews tries to cut it hard towards point region but gets a thick outer edge and the ball flies far right from the keeper for a boundary.

Back of a length, just outside off. Dasun Shanaka clips it from the inner part of his willow towards the mid-wicket for a single.

Short delivery outside off. Dasun Shanaka camps back and punches it towards deep cover and returns back for second. Dasun Shanaka was quick enough as he was just in time on the striker's end.

Beaten! Back of a length delivery around off. Dasun Shanaka tries to heave it but gets beaten on the outer edge.

Short delivery around off. Angelo Mathews cuts it straight to the cover fielder and only 4 runs off the over.

Short delivery around off. Dasun Shanaka drives to the left of the cover fielder for a single.

Fuller delivery on middle. Dasun Shanaka blocks it down the ground.

Short delivery outside off. Angelo Mathews cuts it towards deep cover point for a run.

Short delivery outside off. Dasun Shanaka holds back and slaps it towards long off for a single.

Short delivery on leg. Angelo Mathews stays back and nudges it to his mid-wicket region for a single.

OUT! BINGO! Skipper of Zimbabwe removes the skipper of Sri Lanka. Short of a length skidds into the stumps with the batter caught on his toes. Wanindu Hasaranga gets bamboozled by a sharp turner as the stumps scatters around.

Tossed up on off, Wanindu Hasaranga punches this to the off side for no run.

OUT! A crucial wicket for Zimbabwe as the skipper strikes. Tossed up on off, Charith Asalanka looks to roll his wrists as he closes the bat face a bit early catching a leading edge into the arms of Wellington Masakadza at short cover. A timely wicket for Zimbabwe as this partnership was growing in confidence.

Short of a length outside off, Angelo Mathews cuts it to backward point for a single.

Short of a length in middle, Charith Asalanka nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Charith Asalanka was looking for a couple here but Angelo Mathews wasn't ready for it.

Tossed up on off, Angelo Mathews looks to play across the line but edges it to point for a single.

Fuller on off, Angelo Mathews thumps it back to the bowler who deflects it to long off and keeps it down to a single.

On a length around middle, Angelo Mathews smashes this to deep mid-wicket for a couple. Craig Ervine puts in a valiant effort to field this one running to his right and putting in a sliding effort.

HALF-A-CHANCE! Over-pitched on off, Angelo Mathews gives it a full monty as he drives it uppishly to the left of the bowler but Luke Jongwe does brilliantly to put in a effort to collect it but it hits his hands hard and drops down.

Much fuller outside off, Angelo Mathews drives it past the extra-cover fielder for a couple.

SIX! Angelo Mathews breaks the shackles here. Back of a length outside off, Angelo Mathews pulls it over the fence at cow corner for a maximum.

On a length around off, Charith Asalanka depth touches it to short third for a single. Richard Ngarava is having a tough time fielding at that position as he fumbles again.

Fuller delivery on leg. Angelo Mathews prods and milks it towards the right of the mid-wicket fielder. the fielder rolls to his right and doesn't allow any runs from the ball.

Fuller delivery on stumps. Charith Asalanka drives it towards square leg for a single.

Fuller just outside off. Charith Asalanka guides it towards short third man for no runs.

Short delivery on leg. Angelo Mathews clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Much slower through the air this time, Short of a length outside off, Angelo Mathews gets beaten.

Much quicker and flat wide of off, Angelo Mathews looks to cut but misses out.

Fuller delivery, drifts in, outside off. Charith Asalanka looks to dab but gets hit on his gloves.

Fuller delivery on leg. Angelo Mathews slog sweeps the delivery but gets a thick inner edge and the ball rolls towards deep mid-wicket.

Short outside off. Charith Asalanka pulls it away toward mid-wicket for a single.

Beaten! Short delivery outside off. Charith Asalanka tries to cut it but gets beaten on the outer edge.

Short delivery around off. Charith Asalanka blocks it uncomfortably down the ground.

Fuller delivery on stumps. Angelo Mathews drives it towards vacant mid-wicket region for a single.

2 WIDES! Fuller delivery down the leg, the keeper tries to cover the delivery but he slips and parries it towards fine leg. They crossed for another run.

Fuller on pads, Charith Asalanka tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up on off, Charith Asalanka dabs it to short third and looks for a single but is denied so by Angelo Mathews. Richard Ngarava was caught on his heels again as the skipper shouted in agony on why the fielder did not throw the ball.

FOUR! Tossed up around off, Charith Asalanka gets underneath it and drives it past the extra-cover fielder for a boundary.

Angelo Mathews misses out on a freebee here. Half-tracker, much of a nothing delivery around leg, Angelo Mathews looks for a powerful slog but misses out as it gets the inside edge to short fine for a single. Had Richard Ngarava a bit quicker this would've been close for a shout for run out.

Much fuller in middle, Charith Asalanka glances it to the on side for a single.

BEATEN! Tossed up around off, Charith Asalanka looks to block but a bit of turn and bounce gets the better of Charith Asalanka as he gets beaten all ends up.

Fuller one around off, Angelo Mathews strides to the pitch of it and defnds this.

Tosses it up around middle and off, Angelo Mathews defends this watchfully.

Much quicker wide of off, Angelo Mathews cuts it to point for no run.

Tossed up on off, Charith Asalanka slog sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Gives it a bit more air this time, Angelo Mathews pushes it wide of extra-cover for a single as the long off fielder cuts it off.

Tossed up on off, Angelo Mathews punches this to short cover for no run.

Much fuller on off, Charith Asalanka dabs it to short third looking for a single but denied rightly so by Angelo Mathews.

Hint of turn as this tossed up delivery goes past the outside edge of Charith Asalanka.

Short of a length around off, Angelo Mathews cuts it to the off side for a single.

Tossed up around off, Angelo Mathews watchfully defends it out.

Tossed up on off, Angelo Mathews defends this off the front foot.

OUT! CLEANED'EM! Off-breaks pitching on the fourth stumps line and turns in sharply sneaking past he bat of Sadeera Samarawickrama and crashing on top of off. A spinner's delight.

Tossed up, fuller just outside off. Sadeera Samarawickrama drives it towards long off for a single.

Fuller delivery on leg. Charith Asalanka flicks it towards deep square leg for a run.

Short delivery on stumps. Charith Asalanka stays back and mils it towards mid-wicket for brace taken.

Fuller delivery on off. Sadeera Samarawickrama prods across the line and clips it towards deep square leg for a single.

Short delivery on middle. Sadeera Samarawickrama works it gently towards square leg and returns for the double. This is good running between he wickets.

Tosses it up around off, Charith Asalanka opens the bat face and dabs it to third man for a single.

Back of a length outside off. Sadeera Samarawickrama tries to dab it but gets an inside edge and goes to the keeper.

FOUR! Uppish but in the gap! Fuller delivery just outside off. Sadeera Samarawickrama takes his front foot out and drives it but the shot was not in control. The ball was in air for a bit of sec but into the gap through the cover, and the outer field is lighting fast.

Back of a length on leg. Charith Asalanka tucks it softly towards backward square leg for a single.

Fuller delivery on leg. Charith Asalanka blocks it to his leg side for no runs.

OUT! CAUGHT! Blessing Muzarabani gets the big fish! Blessing fires short delivery outside off. Kusal Mendis waits for the ball to cut over the backward point fielder but ends up cutting much flat and straight to Wellington Masakadza. Kusal Mendis has to walk back.

Full-length delivery on middle. Kusal Mendis flicks it away towards deep backward square leg for a brace.

Short of a length around middle and leg, Kusal Mendis swings hard and collects a single as the fielder at deep mid-wicket fields it.

Short of a length in middle, Kusal Mendis swivels and slaps it to deep mid-wicket region for a couple.

Floats one wide of off, Kusal Mendis taps it to short third for no run.

Short of a length angling into the batter, Sadeera Samarawickrama nudges it to the on side for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Tossed up in middle, Kusal Perera looks for the slog over long on but lands one straight down the throat of Ryan Burl at long on fence.

Tossed up around the pads, Kusal Perera looks for the sweep but mishits this and the fielder at square leg Sean Williams drops it trying to gather it on the bounce as the batters run a couple.

Good-length delivery in middle, Kusal Perera tucks it to the on side and takes a single. An expensive over from Luke Jongwe ruins the good work of the front-line bowlers.

FOUR! It keeps getting worse for Luke Jongwe. On a length around off, Kusal Perera goes for a wild slog but gets an outside edge lofting it over the fielder at 45 on off for a boundary.

FOUR! Over-pitched around the pads, Kusal Perera flicks it over square leg for third boundary of this over.

Goo-length delivery on middle, Kusal Mendis tucks it to the on side for a single.

FOUR! On a length around middle and leg, Kusal Mendis guides this with a gentle lap wide of short fine to his left this time for yet another boundary.

FOUR! On a length angling down leg, Kusal Mendis helps this in between the keeper and short fine leg for a boundary.

FOUR! The first one for the Lankans! Richard Ngarava fires this one short and on leg. Kusal Perera pulls it from the middle of his willow to the deep backward square leg region for a boundary.

Full-length delivery on off, nipping back. Kusal Mendis takes his front foot out and drives it to the right of the mid on fielder for a single.

Yorker, once again, on the middle. Kusal Perera does well t dig it out towards short fine and sets for a quick single,

Slower short delivery on middle. Kusal Mendis gently pulls it down to the deep square leg region for a single.

Fuller delivery, just outside off. Kusal Mendis digs it outback to the bowler.

Yorker in middle, Kusal Mendis blocks it out to the right of the left-handed bowler and takes a quick single. Richard Ngarava collects it and takes a sigh at the non-striking end but the misses by some distance.

Short delivery now, on leg. Kusal Perera hops to flick it towards his leg but gets thumped on the thigh pad. The ball rolls towards short fine leg for a single.

Beaten! Good-length delivery around off, angling away. Kusal Perera tries to heave it to his leg side but gets beaten on the outer edge.

Back of a length, on off. Kusal Mendis pulls it gently towards mid-wicket region for an easy single.

On a length delivery around off. Kusal Mendis stays back in his crease and dabs it to the point fielder for no runs.

On a length, on off. Kusal Mendis takes his front foot out and defends it to his off side.

Back of a length, outside off, shaping in. Kusal Mendis dabs it towards the point region for no run.

Good-length delivery on off, Kusal Perera punches it to mid off for no run.

On a length delivery around off, Kusal Mendis defends this to the off ide off his front foot.

Good length delivery pitching outside off angling in towards the batter, Kusal Perera looks to block but gets beaten on his inside as the ball thumps into his pads. Loud appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Sikandar Raza asks for a review but the ball tracker suggests the umpire's call as the ball would have clipped the top of the bails.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! On a length around the pads, Pathum Nissanka picks it up and flicks it right from the middle but finds the fielder in the deep as Wellington Masakadza takes a good catch running to his right.

On a length in middle, Pathum Nissanka defends this off the front foot.

Wide full toss outside off, Pathum Nissanka guides this to deep third for a single but a fumble from Joylord Gumbie allows the second.