Madushanka’s magic
Sri Lanka’s newest bowling hero, Dilshan Madushanka, became the country’s eighth bowler to record a hat-trick in a One Day International, a sensational comeback performance that sealed an otherwise unlikely victory in the first of the two-match ODI series at Harare on Friday night.Madushanka claimed a last-over hat-trick to snatch Sri Lanka a thrilling seven-run win over Zimbabwe, who required just 10 runs from the final six balls with five wickets in hand, a target within their reach. The hosts appeared well set, with Sikandar Raza on strike on 92, but the left-arm seamer emerged as Sri Lanka’s match-winner.
He clean-bowled Raza with the first delivery of the final over, before dismissing Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava with his next two balls. Raza had his middle stump uprooted attempting a sweep, Evans was caught at short fine leg by Asitha Fernando, and Ngarava was also clean-bowled.
“I joined the team after nearly six months, and I’m simply happy to perform like this in my comeback game,” Madushanka told reporters in Harare.
Madushanka’s mentor, Chaminda Vaas, became the first Sri Lankan to claim a hat-trick in an ODI, incidentally against a much stronger Zimbabwe side in December 2001. Since then, until Friday, seven Sri Lankan bowlers had accounted for 10 ODI hat-tricks. Madushanka delivered Sri Lanka’s 11th, becoming the country’s eighth bowler to achieve the feat.
“Skipper Charith Asalanka spoke to me right before the final over. His advice was to deliver six decent and challenging deliveries. The plan was to get an early wicket, use as many yorkers as possible, and contain them. I’m glad about the final outcome,” Madushanka added with renewed confidence.
Vaas accounted for two hat-tricks, followed by similar feats from Farveez Maharoof, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shehan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana, before Dilshan Madushanka joined the club. But the most remarkable record belongs to one of Sri Lanka’s most devastating fast bowlers, Lasith Malinga, who claimed three ODI hat-tricks to become the only player in the world to achieve such a distinction. Incidentally, Madushanka had the privilege of working closely with Malinga in Sri Lanka before the team left for the African continent.
“I had to stay out of action for nearly six months. On my return, I worked hard with the coaches to regain my usual rhythm, and that probably helped me to handle the situation I faced on Friday. Honestly, I didn’t feel any pressure. I had the confidence, and I think I delivered what the team needed,” said the 24-year-old, who held his nerve with the final three balls to close out the win.
Madushanka completed his 10 overs with figures of four for 62. With Friday’s feat, the left-arm seamer has now taken 49 ODI wickets in 27 appearances.
Sri Lanka, put into bat in the first of two ODIs, posted 298 for six with half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (76 off 92), Janith Liyanage (70 not out off 47) and Kamindu Mendis (57 off 36). Zimbabwe were cruising towards a possible win with Raza steering the chase after half-centuries from Ben Curran (70 off 90) and Sean Williams (57 off 54), until Madushanka applied the brakes to restrict them to 291 for eight. The second ODI will be played today at the same venue.