I Wanted To See A Big Hundred And Pathum Supplied That, Says SL Skipper Asalanka
“I wanted to see a big hundred and Pathum supplied that. Both teams fought hard. I just told the team to do the basics well,” Asalanka was quoted by ICC as saying.
Nissanka, who had been searching for runs in recent one-day internationals, rediscovered his touch with a commanding 122 off 136 balls, decorated with 16 fours. His seventh ODI century came on the back of a vital 76 in the opening game, making him the standout performer of the series.
“It has been a little while since I have been among the runs in one-day internationals, so I am glad I was able to score some here,” Nissanka reflected. “It was tougher to bat during the powerplay and the Zimbabwe bowlers performed well, but I trusted myself.”
Asalanka himself played a pivotal role in the chase, striking a fluent 71 from 61 deliveries to steady the innings after Nissanka’s departure. The skipper credited Sri Lanka’s younger players for their composure in pressure moments. “Young players are doing a good job for the team. I asked the batters to play with less risk and to run hard. They did,” he said.
“It has been a little while since I have been among the runs in one-day internationals, so I am glad I was able to score some here,” Nissanka reflected. “It was tougher to bat during the powerplay and the Zimbabwe bowlers performed well, but I trusted myself.”
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The 2-0 triumph marked Sri Lanka’s first away ODI series victory since beating Scotland in 2019, ending a long drought on foreign soil. The two teams will now turn their attention to the three-match T20I series beginning September 3 in Harare.