Kamindu Mendis played a sensational unbeaten 41 off just 16 balls to rescue Sri Lanka from a middle-order collapse and lead them to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the 1st T20I of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Wednesday.
Chasing 176, Sri Lanka had raced to 96 for no loss, thanks to Pathum Nissanka’s third half-century of the tour, a measured 55 off 32 balls. However, the middle-order faltered, losing six wickets for 46 runs in seven overs and slipping to 125 for 5, bringing the target of 46 runs off the last four overs into sharp focus.
Enter Kamindu Mendis. The No.6 batter smashed four sixes and a four, predominantly behind square on the leg side, as Zimbabwe’s seamers misfired in the death overs. One over in particular from Tinotenda Maposa proved disastrous: with three overs remaining and 34 needed, Kamindu began with a reverse-scoop boundary off a wide yorker, followed by a chest-high full toss cleared over deep fine, a leg-side wide, and another leg-side full toss dispatched over deep square leg. That 18th over went for 26 runs, effectively sealing the match for Sri Lanka, who reached the target with five balls to spare.
