SL vs ZIM 1st T20I: Chameera Wins The Last-Ball Thriller For Sri Lanka In Colombo, WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Sri Lanka won the first Twenty20 International against Zimbabwe in a thrilling match at Colombo.

Sri Lanka edge over the line in the last-ball thriller against Zimbabwe.

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SL vs ZIM 1st T20I, Colombo: In a gripping last-ball showdown in Colombo, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the three-match Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe series. Requiring six runs off the last two deliveries, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera played a pivotal role, securing a three-wicket win by hitting a boundary on the penultimate ball and taking two runs on the final delivery.

Veteran Angelo Mathews, returning to T20 Internationals after almost three years, played a crucial inning, scoring 46 which subsequently won him the player of the match award. "Felt like playing my debut. I wasn't trying to prove anything to anyone. It was just another opportunity for me to try and do the job for my team. It was a slow wicket and was important to stay till the end." said Mathews after the match as quoted by cricbuzz.

Reeling at 51 for four when Mathews entered the game, he and Charith Asalanka forged a vital partnership, adding 32 runs for the fifth wicket. Despite Sikandar Raza's double strike leaving Sri Lanka at 83 for six, a resilient 55-run partnership between Mathews and Dasun Shanaka brought them back into contention.

Requiring 14 runs in the last over, Mathews took charge, hitting two boundaries off the first two balls but was undone by Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarbani on the fourth ball of the final over. Despite Mathews' dismissal for 46 from 38 balls, Chameera who came in after Mathews’ wicket kept his cool, guiding Sri Lanka to a hard-fought victory by hitting a boundary off the fifth ball and then taking a double.

Watch The Highlights Here:

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who top-scored for his team with 62 and took three wickets, expressed disappointment but praised his team's fighting spirit. "This has been the story of Zimbabwean cricket for some time now. Unfortunately we have come out second best today, but I'm still very confident that these are the boys that will change the fortunes of Zimbabwean cricket." Raza stated in the post-match presentation as per cricbuzz. The second match of the series is scheduled for January 16 (Tuesday) in Colombo.