Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 2017, 5th ODI – Statistical Highlights

Zimbabwe recorded a historic series win over Sri Lanka by defeating them at their home. After they levelled the series in a high-scoring game, Zimbabwe capitalised the slowness of the pitch by giving maximum overs to spinners after they won their first toss in the series. An unbeaten fifty from Asela Gunaratne helped Sri Lanka finish at 203/8 after they were reduced to 153/8 in 42nd over.

In reply, the Zimbabweans had a 92-run opening stand in just 14.2 overs but they lost 6 wickets for just 38 runs as they collapsed to 175/7. But a calm and composed Sikandar Raza along with captain Graeme Cremer finished off the game with a six.

Here we look at all the stats and records created during the game.

1 – This is Zimbabwe’s maiden series win against Sri Lanka. They haven’t defeated SL in any bilateral series in any format before this.

2 – This was the 2nd instance of Sri Lanka losing an ODI series after taking a 2-1 lead. The other series was in 2011 against England in England.

3 – Number of times Sikandar Raza has finished off a successful run-chase in ODIs with a six; the most times by any Zimbabwe player. Brendan Taylor, Craig Wishart and Heath Streak have done it two times each.

4 – Number of ODI series wins for Zimbabwe away from home including this win; their last was in Kenya in 2009. They defeated New Zealand and Bangladesh in away series in 2001.

4 – The SL-ZIM series is only the 4th five or more match bilateral ODI series where chasing sides won all the matches. The previous series was 2011 ODI series between Windies and Pakistan.

203/8 – Sri Lanka’s total of 203/8 is the lowest by any team against Zimbabwe after batting full 50 overs in ODIs since India’s 194/9 in 2010 at Harare.

258 – Runs Hamilton Masakadza has scored in this series; the 3rd most by a Zimbabwe player in an away ODI series. Masakadza himself scored 266 in UAE vs Afghanistan in 2015/16 and 260 runs in 2009 series against Kenya.

323 – Runs Danushka Gunathilaka has scored in this series; the 2nd most by any player in a 5-match bilateral ODI series in Sri Lanka. Kumar Sangakkara had scored 372 runs against South Africa in 2014.

323 – Gunathilaka’s 323 runs are the 2nd most in a 5-match bilateral series at home which his team lost. The highest is Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 340 runs against India in 2004.

1994 – The last instance of Sri Lanka failing to score 203 and fewer runs after batting full 50 overs in a home ODI was in 1994 at Colombo against Pakistan. Sri Lanka scored 174/9 in that game.

2001 – Last time before this series, Zimbabwe won an ODI series against a full member nation was in 2013 against Bangladesh. Excluding Bangladesh, they last won an ODI series vs a Test playing nation in 2001 against New Zealand.