Sri Lanka qualify for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 | SL vs ZIM, CWC 2023

After Sri Lanka gave Zimbabwe the opportunity to bat, Zimbabwe struggled in Bulawayo, losing Joylord Gumbie for a five-ball duck before Wessly Madhevere left for one and the Chevrons were left on eight for two.

The dangerous Sikandar Raza was summoned to the crease to join Sean Williams after Dilshan Madushanka got his third wicket of the morning to eliminate skipper Craig Ervine.

Before Madushanka took a wonderful low catch to knock the all-rounder for 31 from 51 balls and halt the 68-run partnership, Raza displayed the patience the circumstances demanded.

Williams made 56 before he was bowled by Theekshana, who later worked with Matheesha Pathirana (2/18) to clean off the tail, but he was unable to add to his back-to-back century.

The hosts' innings was ended at 32.2 overs thanks to the 38 runs that Zimbabwe's final five batters added and three wickets they took in six deliveries.

Nissanka, who hit a run-a-ball fifty in a century partnership with the more cautious Dimuth Karunaratne, led Sri Lanka in their response to 165.

After being dropped for naught by Brad Evans in the game's third over and surviving a review for being caught behind on 21, the opener had good reason to be wary.

After the review, Nissanka used his team's momentum to take Evans for three fours in the following over, quickly reaching his fifty-over mark.

When Richard Ngarava dismissed left-hander Karunaratne, Sri Lanka was at 104 for one after the hundred-partnership began in the 19th over when he took an easy single to get to 29.

Nissanka persisted in guiding Sri Lanka to their goal, ably assisted by Kusal Mendis, who selflessly declined runs to give Nissanka a chance at a century.

Nissanka was three runs short of his second ODI century when Wellington Masakadza's wide tied the game, but a four off the next pitch gave Shanaka's team the victory and will send them to India for the World Cup in October.

Zimbabwe, however, is still in the driver's seat to join Sri Lanka, knowing that success over Scotland on Tuesday will guarantee their participation in the Cricket World Cup for the first time since 2015.

Zimbabwe 165 all out in 32.2 overs (Sean Williams 56, Sikandar Raza 31; Maheesh Theekshana 4/25, Dilshan Madushanka 3/15)
Sri Lanka 169/1 in 33.1 overs (Pathum Nissanka 101 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 30; Richard Ngarava 1/35, Blessing Muzarabani 0/28)