00:02.
00:10Co-host Sri Lanka with three venues in this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup, including this one in Colombo
00:18today.
00:19A vibrant city that has cricket fever at the moment.
00:23The host Sri Lanka are up against Zimbabwe who hail from a beautiful country with a thundering Victoria Falls.
00:31And there themselves have thundered into the next round with some wonderful performances.
00:37Sri Lanka unbeaten as well.
00:39On the back of that magnificent 100 from Patum Nusanka.
00:43The toss went the way of Sri Lanka.
00:45They've chosen to bat first at the Primadasa Stadium in Colombo.
00:50Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe both looking to keep their winning record alive.
00:56Sri Lanka have made a couple of changes, haven't they?
01:00Most changes as well.
01:02They've had three frontline seamers.
01:05Bowlers ruled out today.
01:07Madushanka and Madushan, both replacements, they take their place on the team.
01:13They'll be the two seamers.
01:14Other than that, everyone stays the same.
01:17Nusanka, Pereira, Kusalmendi is so crucial at the top.
01:22They've gone unchanged.
01:23They've remained with the 11 to them.
01:25It might be interesting going forward.
01:27They obviously feel this is their best 11 at the moment.
01:30And they want to keep that momentum.
01:31You would think that is what they're thinking of.
01:36They have to miss Nusanka, Kusalmendi, Pereira.
01:39Out there to open the batting.
01:41Now, Sekanda Raza opened the bowling in the previous game as well against Australia.
01:51Go away with that one.
02:09Good little gift to start to a battle.
02:12Looking for those first few runs.
02:14Looking for rhythm.
02:16Just sits up.
02:20See, more often when you play the gap.
02:28It's time to let loose maybe a little bit.
02:32I felt like they were bogged down for a little bit,
02:34and now just to play it with a bit of freedom.
02:38He's looking to go leg side,
02:40even though there is protection on the boundary leg side,
02:42he'll get it fine enough for a full 20 without loss.
02:51Top edge will fly over the top easily off the field.
02:55The Zimbabwe make a change and bring Masakata in early.
03:05He will get that far enough for another boundary.
03:08Nice by Nesanka.
03:11It starts down the left side.
03:13That's too easy for a man in form.
03:20That is playing with some authority.
03:25Now the bowler under real pressure.
03:32Masarabani has been the man for Zimbabwe in the power play.
03:36A change of ends.
03:38And he gets a wicket to break this opening partnership.
03:41Masarabani.
03:42Slower ball into the pitch.
03:45Gasol Pereira didn't get the pace.
03:48Didn't get the timing he was looking for.
03:51Gasol Pereira 22 of 14.
03:5454 for 1.
03:55Musol Mendes.
04:01It will go for four.
04:03Field up in the circle on that offside.
04:1450.
04:18Upadham Nesanka.
04:20From just 34 balls.
04:22Continuing on where he lived off.
04:26Over in candy.
04:27More and more to celebrate.
04:35Oh.
04:36Couldn't get there.
04:41Oh, Tywin.
04:43Good work from Arumani.
04:46He strikes straight away.
04:52It's a perfect length.
04:54It's a perfect line.
04:55It dips.
04:58Brilliant bit of wicket keeping.
05:00Romani whips the bails off.
05:02That's the wicket that they needed.
05:05Musol Mendes.
05:05He goes for 14.
05:07Sri Lanka lose their second.
05:08It's 100 for two.
05:10Here's Pavan Ratna.
05:11Great find for Sri Lanka.
05:19Was an edge.
05:22Got him on the throat.
05:28Big bottom edge.
05:29Yeah.
05:30That hurts.
05:31So close to the off stump.
05:33I reckon he'd be thinking about his throat or thinking how close it's to the stumps.
05:37Another wicket.
05:38Bang.
05:38Zimbabwe back in.
05:42Has he got enough?
05:44No, he hasn't.
05:46Nisanka goes.
05:47So that's the set batter.
05:49Zimbabwe have got two wickets pretty quickly.
05:54Tony Monyonga wonderfully judged catch running back.
06:02Oh, yes.
06:03Zimbabwe clawing themselves back into it.
06:08Nisanka has played a wonderful knock again.
06:10He goes for 62.
06:12108 for three.
06:15Coming to Mendes, the left-hander.
06:20Master one, easier to hit.
06:22Do not give the batter any pace.
06:29put it back to creamer and you can hear the hush around the ground
06:33as there's the disappointment that you won't see the finish from Kamindu
06:38flighted delivery it was maybe a straighter run or a googly
06:44just a straighter one just little push easy catch caught in bold second wicket
06:50important breakthrough at this stage of the game what Zimbabwe I'm on to go for
06:56seven up one twenty three four four that's on Shanika now walks to the crease
07:08there's a feeling underneath it but snowman
07:18you see the feet that made the difference here the fielder on the
07:23boundary completely lost the ball he came in off the boundary and his teammates
07:29were calling for him to go back just completely misread it
07:42starts on the next side however it'll be yet another one for Mazarabani this is
07:49very intelligent bowling longer part of the boundary didn't middle it rolled back
07:55of a lens shot delivery took a chance went straight to the fielder like I said
07:59catching has been exceptional by this Zimbabwe inside skipper goes for six now
08:04Sri Lanka one forty two for five Mazarabani on a hat-trick he picked up a wicket
08:09off the last ball of the last over he pulled which was a fifth over
08:18well Alaga ends up defending the hat-trick ball he went for that bounce
08:29a little bit of a walk to do gets a hand to it and unfortunately Bennett can't stop it
08:33from going to the boundary
08:38had to make a late adjustment he moved across his stumps
08:41and just that late adjustment gives him an important boundary
08:47crack
08:48what a beautiful sound of that bat and look at him now he followed it to the
08:54short ball but I think that's where he's very very strong 86 meter it's a huge hit
09:04now gets an opportunity to go offside the correction from Evans results in yet another boundary
09:15the again
09:16Krimah completes the catch and Evans has got himself a wicket
09:23for Evans off cutter slow one and
09:30Ratnaike wanted to go over the third shot third man but the slow face of the ball didn't let him
09:36very good innings from him 44 of 25 164 for six now you better a hush around the
09:50ground as they realize that pearl is underneath us yeah there was an off
09:56cutter again thought right in my slot but in middle it long boundaries went
10:01straight to the field easy as you like so two wickets two deliveries by heavens
10:10one that goes without scoring 164 for 790 was gone
10:14Nick Shauna the new better number nine
10:22he's done brilliantly
10:25picked up the bounce so early on
10:41in the circle
10:43but good awareness from the batter to know there was a chance to finish the innings off with a full
10:51and they'll end on 178 Zimbabwe to maintain the 100% record is 179 and a brilliant start 54 from
11:03that opening
11:04partnership thanks to another half century from Nisanka how good a form he's been blocks quickly and managed to get
11:09to 178 Zimbabwe then need 179 if they're to win here
11:17you all would be quite happy with to look at Romania and Bennett who are the opening pair
11:23Nishan Madhushanka is back in the mix had a few injuries along the way but he's fit and firing
11:38nicely nudged
11:40running is going to be the order of the day
11:42not just a single as you see with them running off there
11:46run one with a view to coming back for a second if opportunity presents itself
11:55nicely played
11:56probably goes finer than he intends there but always opening the face of the blade
12:01to try and exploit that offside for runs
12:06money
12:09easy pickings for him
12:15played
12:17helped on its way on the leg side it'll go for four more
12:21this is not a good start but from a mother shine
12:26to his legs slightly shorter easy pickings for Marumani once again
12:37with a wonderful reverse sweep
12:42that's a fantastic shot used all his pace most importantly but right through the gap
12:53this is what Zimbabwe should be doing especially after spinners
13:00on again and it's worked again is playing that shot beautifully
13:09just gets it past
13:12desperation stakes really
13:17there you go nicely done that
13:21and it's all right
13:21for a motion saw brand bear brand bennett giving himself room
13:26afraid to your kid
13:31he gets that that six maromani it's in the slot mid on up inside the circle
13:40half ollie though you have to see ticciana take the pace off it here
13:46that was going anywhere now the thing with ticciana is he picks up lots of wickets
13:50in the power play he's got the most number of wickets in the power play for a spin in
13:54that's by bowling quicker in the gap that's four and the fifties on the board
14:04even worse now bennett gives himself room he's taking to take shana whammy he goes with the
14:12sweep this time he expects that from ticciana he has to drag his length back
14:20oh should have done better he dives over that
14:27that's four how powerful he played was that from maromani
14:36there we go he's called for it takes it
14:50very smart bowling keeping it outside off slower pace
14:57it's giving nothing to work with it's a great start it's a composed catch it went very very high
15:05maromani he got his side off to a great start he goes for 34 zimbabwe 69 for one
15:13ryan ball good move i think
15:19that's in the gap will it get all the way yes it will it'll go for four that'll do nicely
15:28ryan pearl with power to burn that is massive oh look at him go as well he knows he's absolutely
15:39small bad physics what a shot let's have a look flight and delivery outside of some right in his arc
15:48with the spin and went towards mid wicket look at this distance 103 meters the biggest
15:53we have seen so far second tier
16:03sheesh whiplash
16:09edge miss fail another boundary this will put extra pressure on team sri lanka here
16:16really good batting by zimbabwe and pearl 23 of just 11.
16:24to replace maromani who's left-handed and keep that combination going
16:34top edge is going to be out
16:38shanaka gets the breakthrough they needed that desperately sri lanka
16:43was it the off cutter yes i think so it didn't middle it top edge straight to the fielder
16:47at short fine leg yes easy catch simple catch and a very very crucial wicket by sri lanka good
16:54innings bow 23 of 12 98 for 2 zimbabwe 98 for 2 zimbabwe and in comes their skipper sekanda raza
17:07the running will be the issue here they'll run hard
17:11how fit is young bennett that's the question yes and this is good running that brings up 100 from zimbabwe
17:18two rickets down this is really an excellent cricket from zimbabwe pressure is on sri lanka here
17:28short ball again nicely played good shot this is good cricket from zimbabwe bennett is on 42 now
17:39short and banged away oh yes what a shot from sekanda raza he's really good at it yeah it was
17:49a
17:49quick delivery look at this right his favorite shot with his favorite area for the maximum 10 from the
17:56over two balls to come so far the plan is working raza turning it on here two sixes in a
18:09row oh that's
18:10beautiful let's have a look here we go he was expecting that after the short ball and he was at
18:16the top ball he put it big head spread the spin look at that stunning under one meters huge
18:28he's gone at it again he's got it in the gap again he'll get four more
18:35and change the field set it straighter so he gives himself room
18:39and decides he's gonna open the face of the blade
18:45he went straight in the previous over and now does exactly the same brilliant from the captain
18:54right in the slot
18:59whack at it trade over the long on boundary
19:08decides to go wide and full of the off stump placed it the weakened gap the effects recover
19:23tries to take the pace off the ball but raza creates his own power and yet another one
19:29goes over the boundary rope lightly shot from madushanka rolling his fingers over
19:39raza sees it like a football sends it to the stands
19:47back to back off centuries it is for bennett in the competition
19:52he is yet to be dismissed in this year's icc men's t20 world cup
19:59fantastic knock by brian bennett once again giving the start that zimbabwe wanted
20:07banning excellently shifting through gears in the middle
20:13barbie to a very safe position
20:18just full short and it goes to the boundary for four
20:22nothing going right at the moment for sri lanka it's 160 for two
20:32the crowd comes to life extremely hard straight to the fielder
20:43gets captain
20:4567 for three a brilliant 45 from second
20:58sri lanka
20:59sri lanka
21:00sri lanka at hope yet again that is brilliant
21:04sri lanka wasn't distracted by his teammate coming in
21:08what's needed we could
21:15almost a collision
21:18doesn't shanaga hangs on to it
21:24this team alive
21:26makes one 169 for four
21:29tony man younger
21:43it was fired in rocks onto the back foot slaps it over mid wicket for six
21:57scores are level and they'll settle for that for now
22:06zimbabwe what a tournament they have had
22:09behind it
22:10undefeated in this group stage
22:13they complete their second highest successful trace in t20 internationals
22:19over the co-host sri lanka
22:23brian bennett yet again undefeated zimbabwe undefeated
22:29look out for them now in the super eights
22:35Mbappe went by six wickets excellent chase by them they were so good with the ball to
22:41pull it back after a brilliant opening partnership for Sri Lanka of 54 runs otherwise since then
22:49they've just about bossed this game
22:59you
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