SL VS ZIM - 3rd ODI, Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka, 2017

That is it from this gruelling battle between Lanka and Zimbabwe. Lanka again humbling the tourists but were made to stretch a bit this time. Soon to be extinct - bowlers need something in their favour. On that note, this is Kumar Abhisekh Das wishing you buhbye on behalf of Abhinand and Sreenivas.

Angelo Matthews: I didn't know that (about Lanka chasing more than 300 to win an ODI at home for the first time). A fantastic effort from the boys. We had our backs against the wall after the first game. The series is not over yet. The bowlers did really on that wicket to restrict Zimbabwe to 310. Credit to Masakadza for the ton he got as well. We could have chased 350 on the wicket the way Dickwella and Gunathilaka batted today. We can't thank Upul enough and he has been up and down the order over the years. He has given the opening spot to Gunathilaka and still scores wherever the team wants him to.

Graeme Cremer: I thought we had enough runs on the board. We slowed down maybe from 30-40. But we got momentum towards the end again. The openers did take the game away from us. The dropped catches cost us. We didn't start off well with the ball. We just need to be better on the field. Our bowling was probably under par.

Danushka Gunathilaka: It was a great moment for me. I played my natural game. Credit to Dickwella as well. It was a great wicket to bat on. Credit goes to the bowlers as well. They did really well as it was a hard wicket to bowl on.

At the half-way mark, it looked slightly dicey from Lanka's point of view as Zimbabwe ended with a strong yet below par 310 in their allotted 50 overs. At one time they threatened to get beyond 340 but wickets in the middle overs didn't help their cause. Hamilton Masakadza got a quickfire ton but hardly found any support from the other end. A late flourish from Raza and Moor pipped Zimbabwe over 300. Presentations in a while.

Not too many times would you see a total of 300 plus being chased down with such ridiculous ease. But Lanka are making a habit of it. A month ago, they did that against India and now Zimbabwe have to suffer at the hands of the Lankans. Yes, there were catches which went down but take nothing away from the Lankan openers. Both got tons and set up this big win. Tharanga and Mendis provided the finishing touches.

Niroshan Dickwella: It's a great feeling. Playing in SL and making my first century in front of the crowd - that's a great feeling. Both of us (him and Gunathilaka) scored and played really well. We were talking to each other. We were keeping run rate under 6 and 6.5 so that we can capitalize in the last 10 overs. Not up to my great standards (when asked if this was his greatest knock). But, I'm very happy to get my first century. Hoping to get many more centuries and make my country proud. (When asked about his celebrations when he got to 99) I was counting my runs from 90 and I asked Danushka whether I was on 98 or 99. He said I was on 99 and he was sure. I got a single, but I was in doubt. Eventually, I got to the century.

Mire to Tharanga, FOUR, a handsome pull past the man at fine leg and Lanka take a 2-1 lead in style. This is the 10th time Lanka have chased down a total in excess of 300. First time at home. A hit me delivery onto the body and Tharanga rolled his wrists over that to send it speeding away into the fence

Mire to Tharanga, no run, shortish, angled across, left alone

Mire to bowl the final over of the game, in all likelihood.

Chatara to Tharanga, 1 run, stays inside the line of the short ball to pull it to deep mid for a single

Chatara to Tharanga, wide, another bumper and the batsman looks at the square leg umpire and gets a wide as a result. The bowler is not a happy customer. A four needed now!

Chatara to Tharanga, no run, ducks under the slower bouncer and lets it go

A shot away from a win.

Chatara to Tharanga, 2 runs, pulls the ball away against the breeze and the ball lands in no man's land well away from mid-on for a couple

Chatara to Tharanga, no run, bangs it in, Tharanga ducks under it and lets it go

Chatara to Tharanga, wide, short ball down leg, wided

Chatara to Tharanga, no run, chops the cut away and finds the man at point

Chatara to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, stays inside the line of the ball and cuts it away into the covers for a single

Tendai Chatara [5.0-0-41-0] is back into the attack