Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 2017, 3rd ODI – Statistical Highlights

Once the 300+ run-chase jinx on the Sri Lankan soil was broken, the chase seems to be getting easier as it was the home side Sri Lanka’s turn to record their highest. Zimbabwe looked set to post a total in the 350 runs range thanks to a quick-fire hundred by Hamilton Masakadza but the drop in scoring rate during 30-45 overs period ensured they settled down with only 310/8 in their 50 overs.

The total seemed to be quite small for the home side as they chased it down losing just 2 wickets with their openers Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunatilaka putting on a double century stand by scoring their maiden ODI hundreds.

Here we look at all the stats and records created during the game.

2 – Number of 300+ totals for Zimbabwe in this series; they are the 3rd visiting team after India (2009) and South Africa (2014) to score 300+ totals twice in a bilateral ODI series in Sri Lanka.

3 – Number of centuries scored by the openers in this game; the 4th instance when three opening batsmen scored centuries in an ODI. The last one was England-Sri Lanka ODI in 2006 at Leeds.

4 – Number of 300+ totals in this series; the joint most in an ODI series/tournament on Sri Lanka soil. Four 300+ totals were recorded in the 12 matches hosted by them in the 2011 World Cup.

5 – Graeme Cremer became the 9th captain to be dismissed for a “diamond duck” in International cricket. He is the first Zimbabwe captain and 5th in ODIs to bag a “diamond duck”.

6 – Number of double century opening stands Sri Lanka have put together in ODI run chases; the remaining teams collectively have only 9 double hundred stands for the opening wicket while chasing. Overall Sri Lanka have ten 200+ stands for the first wicket with the next most being 4 each by Australia, India and Pakistan.

7 – Number of instances when a team has chased down 300+ targets in ODIs for the loss of two or fewer wickets. Three of those 7 instances including this game are by Sri Lanka.

10 – Number of times Sri Lanka has chased down 300+ total in ODI cricket. Only India (15) have chased more 300+ scores than Sri Lanka.

83 – Number of balls Hamilton Masakadza needed for his century in this game; the 3rd fastest century by a Zimbabwe player in ODI cricket.

229 – Partnership stand between Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunatilaka for the opening wicket; the 6th highest opening stand while chasing in ODIs. Two of the top 5 opening stands while chasing are by Sri Lankans.

311 – Sri Lanka’s successful run-chase of 311 in this game is their highest in ODIs at home. Their previous highest successful ODI chase at home is 289 vs Pakistan in 2009.