Zimbabwe crashed to a heart-breaking 7-run loss to Sri Lanka in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club. The hosts Zimbabwe had their moments and competed well with Sri Lanka for most parts and it looked like they will walk away with the win. But when the clutch moments came, Sri Lanka showed their experience and played them better to eke out a nervy win to go 1-0 up in the 2-match series. Plenty of positives for both teams going forward and we will try and list three reasons by Zimbabwe lost the match.
Conceding 113 runs in the last 10 overs costs Zimbabwe the momentum.
Zimbabwe won a good toss and decided to bowl first which was the right thing to do. They bowled well with the new ball and took an early wicket before the second wicket partnership stabilised things for the visitors. But Zimbabwe hung in there and kept chipping away and at the completion of 40 overs, they had Sri Lanka at 185/5 and in check. But it’s in the last 10 overs, that things got away from Zimbabwe more so in the last 7-8 overs.
Sri Lanka through Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis added 113 runs off the last 10 overs which we call the death overs phase and got a wicket at the final ball of the innings. The death overs bowling took the game away and gave momentum to Sri Lanka who drove home the advantage after that. It allowed Sri Lanka to get close to 300 which was about maybe 20 runs above par on that pitch. Had the Chevrons executed better in the death overs, they could have kept the total down to 280 odd and we would have been talking differently now.
ODI cricket is such a format where one has to do well in all facets of the game and it is long. Zimbabwe were good in most phases, but in the phase they were behind, they let the game slip and made job difficult for themselves. Going forward to the second ODI, Zimbabwe would like to get things right in the death overs with the ball and keep the target down to manageable levels and not above par. That will be the challenge for them going into the second and final ODI.
Losing 2 wickets in the first over pegs Zimbabwe back early.
Chasing 299 for the win, Zimbabwe needed a solid start at the top of the order to lay a platform for the batters to follow in the middle order. But the innings started off on a disastrous note as they lost two wickets in the first over of the chase. Asitha Fernando was up for it and he got rid of first Brian Bennett for a golden duck and then few balls later Brendan Taylor for a bronze duck to leave the hosts at 0/2. We know both the batters are important for Zimbabwe especially Taylor with his experience but they couldn’t trouble the scores.
Credit to Asitha Fernando of course for getting his line and length right and troubling the batters straightaway, but Zimbabwe losing two wickets early meant the innings went into a rebuilding phase. Ben Curran and captain Sean Williams had to rebuild things and naturally the required rate went up a bit. The duo did really well to put on 118 for the third wicket to bring the Chevrons back on track. But Sri Lanka knew that if they get a wicket, they will be back in control again as the required rate was more than run a ball and new batters will take time to settle in to the crease.
Going forward, whether batting first or chasing a total down, Zimbabwe needs to start well at the top and avoid losing early wickets. They say a good foundation is half the job done especially in ODI cricket. They will look back, introspect and come back better in the next game as they had a lot of positives from this game, but this was an area they lagged behind a little bit.
Inability to finish the game under pressure gives heartbreak to Zimbabwe.
Despite all the setbacks, Zimbabwe kept fighting and fighting back through Sikandar Raza. Firstly, the partnership between Ben Curran and Sean Williams brought them back on track before they again lost their way to be 161/5 in 30 overs at one stage. Then Sikandar Raza their talisman got support from Tony Munyonga and the duo built the partnership gradually with Raza being the aggressor and Munyonga playing his role. They put on 128 off 115 balls to turn the game on its head and Zimbabwe were the favourites going into the final over.
With 10 needed off 6 balls, and Sikandar Raza on strike the stage was set for Raza to take Zimbabwe over the line. But Dilshan Madushanka had other ideas. Credit to the bowler for nailing the right line and length, but Raza lost the plot under pressure as he tried to hit a cheeky shot and got bowled for 92. Thereafter, Madushanka got rid of Brad Evans, and Richard Ngarava to complete a hat-trick as Munyonga was left stranded at the bowler’s end and couldn’t do anything when he came on strike as well as the Chevrons lost from a winning position.
It is one thing to control and fightback in the game, and there is another thing of finishing it as finishing is an art in sport. Zimbabwe failed to finish the game under pressure when game was on the line. Against strong sides, these kinds of opportunities won’t come always and they need to look at this area and see how they can better handle pressure. It was Sri Lanka getting out of jail than winning it as Zimbabwe lost from a dominant position. These little areas of the game that the Chevrons have to look at to come back stronger in the next game as they had plenty of positives to take from this game.
What Lies Ahead.
Sri Lanka have taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in this 2-match ODI series with this nervy win in Harare. The matches continue to be held there where both teams will return to play on Sunday 31st August 2025 for the second and final ODI at 1 PM IST. So, can Zimbabwe fight back from the heartbreak in the first ODI and draw level in the series or will Sri Lanka drive home the advantage and win the series 2-0?
We will find out all the answer on Sunday when the second ODI takes place in Harare with the series up for grabs. Let’s see how things pan out from here.
Also Read: ZIM vs SL: Can Zimbabwe Finally Pull Off A Series Win After Losing Continuously?