After batsman’s incredible display, it was the turn of Sri Lankan bowlers, and they spellbound the fans with sublime bowling to take the visitors over the line.
Suranga Lakmal took four for 27 to set up Sri Lank⛦a for a 10𝓰-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first Test at Harare on Thursday.
Zimbabwe started the Day 5 on 30 without any loss and trail by 127 runs. They lost their first batsman at 33, and that opened the flood gates of wickets. The Sean Williams-led sideꦅ got all out on 170 and gave Sri Lanka to chase 14 runs only.
Innings break: Zimbabwe 170🔯 all out, Sri Lanka need 14 runs to win.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
Lakmal dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order, and he was well assisted by Lahiru Kumara, who scalped three wickets. In reply, the Dimuth Karunaratne-led team chased down the easy target of 14 runs to register a 10-wicket victory in the first Test.
Sri Lanka win the 1st Test by 10 wickets!
ZIM 358 & 170 (Lakmal 27/4, Lahiru Kumara 32/3, Eಞmbuldeniya 2/74) v SL 515/9d 🍸& 14/0.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
Angelo Mathews, who smashed his Test career’s maiden double hundred, was gratified with the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
The second and final game of the two-matchജ Test series will start on Mondayꦕ (Jan 27) in Harare.
Sri Lanka’s outstanding win attracted former and current cricketers to express their feelings.
Here’s how they reacted:
Excellent knock by he ♌has so much to offer in every format. Best batsman in Sri Lanka for a long time now.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2)
Well played … very good knock 👍
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay)
Good win Not easy towards theꦓ end . Well done guys 👍👍
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
Great stuff by the boys well batted @dds75official and a mammoth effort by Suranga ,ambul and all others✅ including support staff. Thanks for all the support 🙏🙏o𒁏n to the next
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews)
Well done for your maiden double 💯💯 👏👏
A gutsy𒊎 knock and well supported by & ! Lets capitalize this lead. 👍— Danushka Gunathilaka (@danushka_70)
on your maiden double 100👏🏽
— Kusal Mendis (@KusalMendis13)
Well played Angi Ayya . An amazing 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣.
— Niroshan Dickwella (@NiroshanDikka)
Well played Keep rocking
— Thisara perera (@PereraThisara)
Congratulations to Sri Lanka on their ꦚeasy win by 10 wickets over Ziꦫmbabwe.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket)
Congratulations on your maiden𝓰 Test double hundred. Fantastic achievement. All the best for the rest of the series
— Rangana Herath (@HerathRSL)
Congratulations 💯💯🎊🎊
— Upul Tharanga (@upultharanga44)
