Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2022 News

Experienced Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Williams hit his fifth ODI century as he made 100 off just 87 balls to take his team to a great total of 296 in the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka taking place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. Along with Williams, Regis Chakabav also played a great knock although he missed out on his first ODI century yet again, getting out on 72 off 81 balls. Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and decided to bat first. His decision was vindicated by his openers in debutant Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Chakkabva. The openers added 80 for the first wicket in the first 15 overs before Kaitano was trapped leg before wicket by leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay who is making his comeback to the Sri Lankan team with this game. Another wicket fell quickly as Zimbabwe skipper Ervine was removed by Kamindu Mendis. Post the second wicket, Williams walked in and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Chakabva before the latter was caught by Kusal Mendis off Vandersay. However, without getting perturbed by that, Williams kept going on and added 42 with Wesley Madhevere and then 46 with Sikandar Raza. Just after Raza’s dismissal, Ryan Burl also got out but Williams kept up the march. However, even he was removed on the first ball of the 50th over, but not before reaching his fifth century which came in just 86 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes. In that every over, 10 runs were scored off the next five balls and one more wicket was lost Zimbabwe finished on 296-9. For Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne picked two wickets while Vandersay and Nuwan Pradeep picked two each. In the chase, the Lankan Lions had reached 105-2 at the end of the 17th over of their innings at the time of publishing this. They needed 193 off 198 balls with eight wickets in hand.

27-year-old Nuwan Thushara, fresh from his Lanka Premier League fame has been added to Sri Lanka’s squad for the Zimbabwe series. Thushara has a Malinga-esque action and has been among wickets in the LPL last year. Barring Thushara, Chamika Gunasekara and Shiran Fernando have been added to the squad as well, as Sri Lanka will look to test their bench strength against a team that has had a turbulent past in the recent times. Amongst the known faces in international cricket, Sri Lanka do not have the services of Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva and Avishka Fernando. Sri Lanka will be playing a three-match ODI series starting on January 16 in Pallekele. The other two matches will be played on 18 and 21st. Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka, Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Gunasekera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Shiran Fernando, Kamindu Mendis

Avishka Fernando, the man in form for Sri Lanka has tested positive for Covid-19 and hence would most likely miss the three-match ODI series against a touring Zimbabwe side. The series is set to begin from January 16 and the probable players for the Sri Lanka squad for that series have already entered the bubble, although the squad is still not announced. Zimbabwe however reached Sri Lanka on Sunday and would be stationed at Kandy, the place where the three-match series would be played at the Pallekele Stadium. According to Sri Lanka Cricket's medical staff, Fernando has received three vaccinations. The booster dose, however, was administered less than two weeks ago. Only Fernando has returned a positive test so far among all the players tested. Since the ban has been lifted from the trio of Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, and Danushka Gunathilaka, the absence of Fernando might not trouble the team as much as it would have otherwise. In his last two games in the LPL 2021, Fernando struck 100 off 64, and 63 off 41 balls. The three ODIs would be part of the CWC Super League and Sri Lanka currently are sixth on its points table after 15 games. Zimbabwe on the other hand are at the bottom in the 13 team league with only two wins from nine games. Hence the three matches are really important for both the teams. The top eight teams qualify directly for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The other five would go into a qualifier where they will face five associate nations and the top two from there will make the World Cup.

Zimbabwe announced a 15-man squad for its tour to Sri Lanka starting this January. Veteran batter Craig Ervine has been retained as the captain of the Chevrons as they will take on the Lankan Lions in a three-match one-day international series which will be part of the CWC Super League. The Super League will determine seven teams alongside hosts India on the basis of points to enter directly into the 2023 ODI World Cup. All three matches will be day-night affairs and are scheduled for 16, 18 and 21 January 2022 respectively at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. The 15 man squad that has been selected for the tour includes two uncapped batters Takudzwanashe Kaitano and wicketkeeper Clive Madande. Alongside them, all-rounder Tino Mutombodzi has returned to the national side as well. While these new players have been rewarded for their great showing in the Pro-50 domestic championship held in Harare this week, old guns like Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and Regis Chakabva has been retained in the side as well. The Zimbabwe team will leave for the tour this Saturday. Squad Ervine Craig (captain), Burl Ryan, Chakabva Regis, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaitano Takudzwanashe, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Masakadza Wellington, Mutombodzi Tinotenda, Muzarabani Blessing, Ngarava Richard, Raza Sikandar, Shumba Milton, Williams Sean