Twitter Reactions: Jongwe-Madande help Zimbabwe level the series 1-1 with a thrilling 4-wicket win

Zimbabwe registered a thrilling 4-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second T20I to level the series 1-1 on Tuesday, January 16 at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. After being put in to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a good score of 173/6 in their allotted 20 overs courtesy of half-centuries from Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews. In reply, Zimbabwe chased down the target in 19.5 overs and levelled the three-match series 1-1.

Zimbabwe lost their opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (12 off 13) early in their innings as he fell prey to Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over. Following his dismissal, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett (25 off 20) stabilized the innings with their 74-run stand off 53 balls for the second wicket.

Also Read: Sikandar Raza achieves unprecedented feat after smashing fifth consecutive T20I fifty

Their partnership was broken by Maheesh Theekshana (2/25) who destroyed Brian Bennett’s stumps in the 13^th over. Following his dismissal, Sikandar Raza (8 off 5) and Sean Williams (1 off 3) departed cheaply while Ervine also got dismissed for a brilliant knock of 70 (54). Ryan Burl played a small cameo of 13 (9) but got dismissed leaving his side on 143/6 needing 31 off the last 14 balls. Luke Jongwe (25* off 12) and Clive Madande (15* off 5) took matter into their own hands and helped their side get over the line chasing down 174 on the penultimate ball of the innings.

Earlier in the day, after being put in to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to the worst possible start losing opener Pathum Nissanka (1 off 7) in the second over itself with just one run on the board. They further three more wickets inside the powerplay as Kusal Perera (0 off 1), Kusal Mendis (4 off 5) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (16 off 12) returned to the pavilion cheaply leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 27/4 after 4.4 overs.

Also Read: Angelo Mathews holds 'agendas' responsible for white-ball exile

Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews added 118 runs for the fifth wicket

Seeing their team in trouble, Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews got together at the crease as they forged a massive 118-run stand off 79 balls for the fifth wicket. Their massive stand was broken by Luke Jongwe who dismissed Asalanka for 69 (39) as Sri Lanka lost their fifth wicket on 145. However, Mathews remained unbeaten on 66 (51) guiding his team to the total of 173/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Blessing Muzarabani (2/36) and Luke Jongwe (2/32) picked two wickets each for Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, X was abuzz with reactions on Zimbabwe's thrilling win. Here are some of the posts: