SL VS ZIM - 5th ODI, Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka, 2017

The trophy has been presented and it's a super happy bunch beaming with smiles. Heath Streak, Zimbabwe's coach, has long lamented that his team isn't getting the opportunities to test themselves against higher ranked oppostions. He also mentioned that he wanted his team to play well against top nations and that's exactly what Cremer and Co. have done. Will this series win lead to more tours for Zimbabwe? That's for later though, now having created history in the 50-over format, can they show the same fight in the one-off Test, starting on 14th July? Do join us for all the action as the two teams travel to Colombo. For now, cheers and bye..

Graeme Cremer: 'It was (tense).. I don't know how to put it, but we were under pressure. But we knew it was just a matter of one small partnership and Raza did it for us. The chase turned around pretty quickly, but happy to have finished it off well. We knew they expected us to start with seam, Raza gave us the ideal start with wickets in the first 10 overs. I always call heads, thought, I will change my call, it worked out well. Special win for us, the fans back home must be jumping with happiness. We knew we were playing good cricket to put them under pressure, winning in Sri Lanka is huge for us.'

Angelo Mathews: 'We were outplayed in all three departments. Credit to Zimbabwe, they gave us a tough time. It was a difficult track to bat on, but 203 was way below standards. Our bowlers bowled very well, Malinga was good, Dananjaya came good. The openers have taken responsibility, but the rest didn't support them enough. No issues with my hamstring.'

Masakadza: 'I was under a bit of pressure, having not got too many runs, but the selectors backed me and gave me another shot. I have worked on my batting, had a lot of planning with the batting coach, it paid off. We just wanted to have a look at their bowling. That's how Mire plays, it helped me settle. We have worked hard on our strokes - particularly the sweep shot.'

Hamilton Masakadza is the Player of the Series

Raza: 'I think we had a fantastic series. Winning with this boys is a sweeter moment. I asked the skipper to bowl me the first over, we have a lot of trust with each other, it came off today. As long as we won the match, I didn't bother about who was going to hit the winning runs.'

Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match

Lance Klusener: "They have put in a lot of work and they have executed brilliantly. They have come a long way in the last 6 months and all credit to the boys for a series win. We are really going to enjoy today and then think about the Test match. The boys have reaped the rewards and we are going to celebrate enough."

Solomon Mire: "Spectacular, ecstatic. I don't know, there are plenty of words to describe the win. It's a great feeling. I take a lot of confidence out of this tour. I haven't played here before, so to do well on my first tour gives me a lot of confidence. Very happy. I have done a lot of work with the coaches."

Phew! What a chase that was, when Mire and Masakadza were roaring along, it looked like a convincing win was on the cards, then the nerves took over, the effect of not playing a lot of competitive cricket in recent times threatened to take over. Dananjaya, Malinga and Sri Lanka sensed an opportunity. 137/1 quickly became 175/7, a golden opportunity was being spurned, but Zimbabwe's man of the day was still in the middle. Raza took matters into his own hands, played the brave shots and Zimbabwe will toast this 3-2 series win for a long time to come.

Raza looked tensed even as he watched the ball hang in the air for a long long time, but as soon as it lobbed the fielder in the deep, the fist pump started, he was soon joined by his captain. Ntini - the bowling coach, standing outside the ropes was delirious with joy, so was the rest of the team in the dressing room. A famous day for Zimbabwe, the 11th ranked ODI team has upstaged the 8th ranked team at their home.

Wanidu Hasaranga to Raza, SIX, Zimbabwe create history, their first series win against a Test playing nation since 2013. This is their first away series win in 8 years, their first series win against Sri Lanka. Coming to the ball, this was tossed up invitingly outside off, Raza came down the track, doesn't get close to the ball, goes through with the lofted off-drive. Tension mounted as the ball hung in the air, the fielder at long-off sensed a chance, but the wind just took the ball away from him and over the ropes

Wanidu Hasaranga [6.0-0-39-0] is back into the attack

Not the best final over from Malinga, Zimbabwe picked him up for easy ones and twos. Brought the target down from 14 to 6. The last roll of the dice from Mathews, the hat-trick man is in now, Hasaranga

Malinga to Raza, 1 run, that's that for Malinga in this series, fuller length delivery on Raza's pads, flicked towards mid-wicket for a single. 6 needed for a historic series win

Malinga to Cremer, 1 run, on a good length and just outside off, Cremer plays with an open face and guides it behind square on the off-side, just a single. Just 7 needed now

Back to over the wicket..

Malinga to Cremer, 2 runs, handy runs for Cremer, full-toss on his pads, clipped away in front of square on the on-side for another brace

Malinga, from round the wicket..

Malinga to Cremer, 2 runs, nicely played by Cremer, on a good length and well wide of off, Cremer leans forward and caresses it behind square on the off-side, comes back for the second run