Opener Kusal Mendis stroked a fine knock of 54 in 29 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes as Sri Lanka recorded a 33 run victory over Zimbabwe in their World Cup T-20 warm up cricket fixture played at Melbourne Cricket Stadium yesterday.

This was the first warm up game for the preparation of the T-20 world cup while Sri Lanka fielded a full strength team to get good match exposure. The opponent Zimbabwe invited to bat first for Sri Lanka while and the Lions made a challenging total of 188 for 5 wickets in 20 overs and Zimbabwe managed to get 155 for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Earlier Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis made a brisk start adding 57 runs in 5.1 overs while Nissanka was first to depart for 21 off 15 balls with 4 boundaries. Mendis together with Dhananjaya de Silva (17) who was played instead of Charith Asalanka added further added 35 runs for the second wicket and Sri Lanka were 92 for 2 wickets in 9.1 overs. Dhasnushka Gunatilleka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa also made 17 runs each while Skipper Dasun Shanaka who scored an unbeaten 16 in 13 balls with 2 fours. The bowling all rounder Wanindu Hasaranga came as number seven batter made a quick fire knock of 37 runs in just 14 balls hit 4 fours and 2 sixes on this Melbourne wicket guided Sri Lanka to a challenging total of 188 for 5 wickets in 20 overs and they maintained 9.4 run rate after 20 overs.

Zimbabwe openers wicket keeper Regis Chakabva (20) and skipper Craig Ervine (24) facing 15 balls each hit 2 fours each added 39 runs in 3.2 overs but Sri Lanka bowlers made good challenge to contain the batters to win this game. Chamika Karunaratne the all rounder got the first breakthrough getting Chakabva’s wicket and got experienced Sikandar Raza for a 1 run while Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers taking 2 for 39 in his 4 over spell well supported by Chamika Karunaratne who finished with 2 for 26 in his 3 over spell and Dhananjya de Silva the part time off spinner got a solitary wicket given away 5 runs in his only one over.

Chamika Karunaratne the most active player of the Sri Lankan team said this frist warm up game victory gave a big boost for the next match. Actually we did not play with our full effort but getting match practice on this conditions is very important. Actually my role is to bat at number 8 and it’s a very crucial time in the match. I have confidence to do my role as an all rounder while my team has good committment always and we are focused on T-20 World Cup. We are getting better before the world cup already been more than ten days here in Melbourne and then move to Geelong two days before on October 14 to play the qualifying round matches.

Sri Lanka will meet Ireland in their next warm up game tomorrow at Junction Oval grounds in Melbourne followed by first qualifying game on October 16 against Namibia.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka 188 for 5 wickets in 20 overs Pathum Nissanka 21, Kusal Mendis 54, Dhananjaya de Silva 17, Dhanushka Gunatilleka 17, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 17, Dasun Shanaka 16*, Wanindu Hasaranga 37*, Brad Evans 1/18, Ryan Buri 1/13, Sikandar Raza 1/8, Wessly Medhevere 1/8, Milton Sumba 1/7

Zimbabwe 155 for 5 wickets in 20 overs Regis Chakabva 20, Craig Ervine 24, Wessly Medhevere 42, Milton Sumba 32, Ryan Buri 12*, TGony Munyonga 12*, Maheesh Theekshana 2/39, Chamika Karunaratne 2/26, Dhananjaya de Silv 1/5.