Zimbabwe claim historic ODI series win

Jul 10, 2017 - 11:57 AM Zimbabwe secured a one-day international series win at a Test-playing nation for the first time since 2001 as they defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in the deciding match in Hambantota.

With the five-match series locked at 2-2, the Zimbabweans survived a dramatic collapse to complete a historic success by chasing down the Sri Lankans' 8-203 with more than 11 overs to spare.

Opener Hamilton Masakadza made 73 to go beyond 5,000 one-day runs for his country.

The last time Zimbabwe defeated a Test-playing nation in a one-day series on foreign soil was when they beat Bangladesh 16 years ago, and this outcome speaks volumes of a Sri Lankan side struggling in a transitional period.

Their batting let them down as they were restricted to just more than 200 having had double-century opening partnerships in each of the previous two ODIs, with Niroshan Dickwella following up back-to-back tons with just three to be one of six Sri Lankans dismissed for single figures.

Sikandar Raza's 3-21 in 10 overs set the tone and that was built on by a 92-run opening stand between Masakadza and Solomon Mire.

And though Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 38 runs, they eventually got over the line thanks to Raza's unbeaten 27.

Source: AAP