It is hard not to feel both pride and frustration after the Chevrons put up a spirited display in Harare, only to let victory slip through their fingers. Sri Lanka edged home by four wickets in the opening T20I, taking a 1-0 lead in the series – but this was a contest Zimbabwe should have seized.
Put into bat, Zimbabwe posted a strong 175, driven by Brian Bennett’s explosive eighty-one off fifty-seven balls and Sikandar Raza’s typically assured contribution. At one stage, the Chevrons looked destined for 180-plus, but two key wickets in Dushmantha Chameera’s penultimate over halted the charge. Even so, 175 was more than competitive.
When Sri Lanka’s reply began, Pathum Nissanka threatened to turn the game into a one-sided affair. His powerplay assault on Blessing Muzarabani, peppered with boundaries and sixes, saw the visitors cruising at 96 without loss at the halfway mark. Yet Zimbabwe, to their credit, fought back brilliantly. Richard Ngarava struck twice in quick succession, Raza accounted for Charith Asalanka, and Evans dismissed Shanaka. Suddenly, Sri Lanka were wobbling, and Harare dared to dream.
But cricket is a game of moments, and Zimbabwe’s moment slipped away when Kamindu Mendis was handed a lifeline. Dropped by Evans, he made full use of the reprieve. His brutal assault on Tinotenda Maposa – 26 runs in a single over – turned the tide irrevocably. From there, Sri Lanka coasted to victory with five balls to spare.
For Zimbabwe, the positives are clear: the batting unit fired, the bowlers showed character, and the fightback was spirited. Yet, at this level, missed chances prove costly. Heading into the second T20, the Chevrons must sharpen their fielding and seize key moments, because against teams like Sri Lanka, opportunities rarely come twice.
