Zimbabwe won by 6 wkts
Batter
Bowler
Zimbabwe registered a facile victory today. One thing is for sure, the series won't be one-sided as we move forward. Expect Sri Lanka to come back stronger in the next game. Anyway, that's for that. It's time to bring curtains on this game. Join us for the second ODI which is scheduled on July 2nd (Sunday). Until next time, it's a goodbye from all of us here. Cya!
Cremer: 'Very special win, to chase down that score - I am very happy, this is also our first win against Sri Lanka in their den. We know what Mire's capable of, he's a real asset to the team, not just with the bat but with the ball as well. We will carry this confidence going ahead, we will take one match at the time. Looking forward to the next game.'
Angelo Mathews: 'I thought we had enough, but it was a poor performance from the bowlers and the catching was bad. We dropped too many chances, they played well, kept on sweeping and reverse sweeping, that made the spinners lose their line and lengths. The pitch was slowing down as the innings progressed and I thought 316 was a good score.'
Mire: 'Feel very happy, it was a beautiful day and we made it very special with this victory. A lot of thanks for the coaches who helped us prepare for the tour. Started in a scratchy manner, had my slices of luck but then things went on well.'
Solomon Mire is the MoM for his career-best 112
Williams: We knew if we play sweeps, we could maneuver the ball. It's easier for us and also to rotate the strike and get the scorecard ticking.
Raza: I feel very proud. I think the selectors have shown faith in the guys. An exceptional win. I kept saying to myself that we need to play till the end. We had to do it for Mire.
Gunaratne brought his team back into the contest with twin strikes, but Raza and Waller weren't to be denied, destiny was with Zimbabwe today. The former blazed away to a handy half-century, Waller chipped in with his own useful hand and Zimbabwe were home and dry, with 14 balls to spare. Nothing much to write about Sri Lanka's bowling except that Mathews might find himself in trouble once again - following his team's appalling over-rate once again. Not to mention, their catching and fielding malaise. Williams was dropped on 13 and Mire on 94 and they certainly made the hosts pay. Galle's first ODI in 17 years ends in a record chase and in disappointment for the hosts.
Who would have thought it will be Zimbabwe who will have the last laugh at the end of the day? They lost a couple of early wickets, but Mire and Williams then drove the Sri Lankan spinners into distraction - with an array of sweeps and reverse sweeps. The spinners were hit out of the attack, the pacers failed to gain any control and the match was threatening to slip out of Sri Lanka's hands. A maiden ODI hundred for Mire - who battled cramps for the major part of his knock and a fifty for Williams.
Aponso to Raza, SIX, Zimbabwe create history, chase down a record score at Galle. They go 1-0 up in the 5-match series, this is their first win in any form of cricket in Sri Lanka, this is also the highest run-chase by any team against Sri Lanka in ODIs in Sri Lanka. Plenty of happy faces in the Zimbabwe camp as they shake hands. Dejected look on the faces of the Sri Lankan fielders. One of the biggest upsets in recent times, Heath Streak, the Zimbabwe head coach, beams a happy smile on his face. Coming to the ball, this was tossed up on the stumps, Raza came down the track and heaved it high into the stands at long-on, first six of the chase and a fitting way to end it all
Aponso to Waller, 1 run, scores are level, tossed up outside off, driven down towards long-off for a single
Aponso to Raza, 1 run, Aponso tosses one on Raza's pads, nudged away behind square on the on-side for a single
Aponso to Raza, 2 runs, the lap sweep from Raza, gets down low and helps it behind square on the on-side, comes back for the second run
Amila Aponso [8.0-0-67-0] is back into the attack
END OF OVER 47
9 Runs
ZIM: 312 - 4
4 1 2 L1 0 1
Sikandar Raza
58 (53)
Malcolm Waller
39 (28)
Dananjaya
10-0-61-1
Dananjaya to Raza, 1 run, slower and on Raza's pads, nudged away backward of square on the on-side for a single
Dananjaya to Raza, no run, lovely ball from Dananjaya, but it's all too late in the piece. This was the slider, went through with the angle, Raza was poking forward and missed
Dananjaya to Waller, leg byes, 1 run, slower and spinning into Waller's pads, he was done in by the flight as he stepped out on the drive, gets beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the pads
Dananjaya to Waller, 2 runs, poor ball from Dananjaya, drops it short and wide of off, Waller backs away and slaps it in front of square on the off-side, more work for the man in the deep. He slides and fumbles, allows a second run
Dananjaya to Raza, 1 run, Dananjaya drops his length short and on Raza's pads, flicked away past square leg for a single
Dananjaya to Raza, FOUR, the reverse sweep and Raza has nailed it, flighted delivery on the stumps, Raza gets down low, reverses his stance and sweeps it powerfully behind square on the off-side, the man in the deep has no chance