Sri Lanka secured a nail-biting three-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in a thrilling last-ball finish during the first Twenty20 International in Colombo on Sunday.
In a moment of high tension, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera emerged as the hero, smashing a crucial boundary off the penultimate ball and then hustling for two runs on the final delivery.
The win maintained Sri Lanka's unbeaten record against Zimbabwe in T20 internationals and was particularly owed to the remarkable performance of 36-year-old former captain Angelo Mathews. Making a comeback to the T20 Internationals after almost three years, Mathews played a pivotal role, top-scoring with 46 runs.
When Mathews walked in to bat, Sri Lanka was struggling at 51 for four, but a partnership of 32 runs with Charith Asalanka laid the foundation for a comeback. However, Sikandar Raza's late strikes left Sri Lanka at 83 for six, putting them in a precarious position.
Undeterred, Mathews joined forces with Dasun Shanaka, and their 55-run partnership brought Sri Lanka back into contention. Shanaka, who had been removed as captain after the 50-over World Cup last year, remained unbeaten on 26.
Facing a requirement of 14 runs off the last over, Mathews showcased his experience by hitting two boundaries in the first two balls, bringing the equation down to six runs from four deliveries. Although Mathews was dismissed for 46 in the fourth delivery, Chameera managed to score the remaining runs.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza's remarkable all-round performance, scoring 62 and taking three wickets, went in vain. His team's total of 143 proved insufficient in the face of Sri Lanka's determined chase. The next match between the two teams is scheduled for Tuesday in Colombo.
