(Cricket news) Sri Lanka were on top in the third and final ODI of the Zimbabwe series. The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first for the first time in the series and it did the trick. Zimbabwe had put up their best bowling performance in the series but the batters could not handle the pressure.

The Lankan openers finally put up a 50 plus partnership which gave the team the edge they needed. Wellington Masakadza picked up the wicket of Kusal Mendis to break the partnership in the 18th over. Two more wickets fell in the next 5 overs for 27 runs as the team again needed a strong batter to rebuild the start they had and Charith Asalanka did just that, as he stayed in the crease while scoring runs at a strike rate just over 90.

Tendai Chatara became the fastest bowler from Zimbabwe to pick up 100 ODI wickets as he dismissed Asalanka. Chatara has now picked up 100 wickets in 76 matches and his wicket slowed down the run rate as Chamika Karunaratne and Ramesh Mendis guarded the wickets for some time while running down the pitch. The set a target of 255 as Zimbabwe had a chance to record a series victory with the lowest target in the series.

Zimbabwe started slow off with the chase and Dushmantha Chameera picked up two in two in the third over as the score was 3-2. Craig Ervine was out for a golden duck as Chameera bowled close to the stumps which caused the batter to edge and a diving catch by wicket keeper Kusal put Zimbabwe in deep trouble. Sean Williams and Milton Shumba only defended the ball as they stood for over 8 overs while scoring 10 runs.

Ryan Burl tried to delay the victory for the Lankans as they needed 180 runs more in 15 overs. Burl hit one boundary in his 46 ball stay but Jeffrey Vandersay spun one straight onto the pads as he too was dismissed and in the next two balls it was all over for Zimbabwe. Vandersay was the pick up of the bowlers with 4 wickets in 7 overs and gave away just 10 runs. He was the leading wicket taker with 9 wickets in three matches and Sean Williams finished as the highest run scorer with 154 runs in 3 matches.

Sri Lanka: 254/9 in 50 overs

Zimbabwe: 70/10 in 24.4 overs

Sri Lanka won by 184 runs

Player of the match: Charith Asalanka (56 runs from 52 balls, 5×4)

Player of the series: Pathum Nissanka (146 runs in three matches)

Also read: Indian bowlers disappoint once again as South Africa seal ODI series win