Thrilling Victory for Sri Lanka as Janith Liyanage’s Heroics Steer Team to Series-Levelling Win , Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe 2nd ODI.

In a nail-biting encounter, Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling win over Zimbabwe in the second match of the three-game series in Colombo on Monday (January 8). Janith Liyanage emerged as the star of the show, delivering a spectacular knock of 95 off 127 in just his second ODI. Despite a challenging start to the chase, the hosts showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming a precarious situation to achieve victory.

Janith Liyanage’s Heroics helped sri-lanka .

Chasing a target of 209, Sri Lanka found themselves in a tough spot at 53/4 and later at 112/6. However, Liyanage’s gritty innings, coupled with crucial contributions from the lower order, turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favor. Zimbabwe, initially in control with Richard Ngarava’s maiden five-wicket haul, faced an unexpected turn of events as the Sri Lankan tail wagged defiantly.

The first innings saw Zimbabwe off to a promising start, with Craig Ervine forming valuable partnerships with Joylord Gumbie, Milton Shumba, and Ryan Burl. Ervine displayed fine form, handling pacers with precision and showcasing nimble footwork against spin. Despite Gumbie and Shumba’s resilience, Sikandar Raza’s failure led to Burl taking charge. At 182/4, Zimbabwe seemed poised for a substantial total, but a remarkable turnaround by Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana dismantled their innings. The last six wickets fell for a mere 26 runs, leaving Zimbabwe with a below-par score.

In their chase, Sri Lanka faced early setbacks, with Ngarava’s impactful spell claiming the top order. However, Liyanage’s composed innings, supported by a crucial partnership with Theekshana, revived Sri Lanka’s hopes. Zimbabwe fought back, taking quick wickets, but the hosts’ lower order displayed resilience.

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As the tension mounted, Liyanage and Theekshana fell in quick succession, putting Sri Lanka in a precarious position. With 37 runs still needed and only two wickets in hand, Zimbabwe had a chance to take the series lead. Yet, Chameera and Vandersay exhibited tremendous grit, guiding Sri Lanka to a dramatic victory with an over to spare. Their ability to withstand pressure played a pivotal role in the team’s series-levelling triumph.