Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka annihilate Zimbabwe in one-sided decider

After the first two T20Is between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were decided on the final deliveries, fans anticipated another close contest in the decisive third T20I at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, January 18. However, the fans in attendance saw a one-sided affair where the hosts won by a comprehensive nine-wicket margin, with 9.1 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga won the toss and opted to bowl first. After Craig Ervine departed for a golden duck, the 20-year-old Brian Bennet played an audacious innings of 29 off just 12 balls, hitting seven fours. However, Angelo Mathews sent him packing. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe couldn't get going as he was the third Zimbabwean batter to be dismissed inside the PowerPlay.

This was the start of a major collapse for the tourists, as they went from 51/2 in the sixth over to 82 all out in the 15th. The Sri Lankan spinners wreaked havoc, led by skipper Hasaranga, who bagged a four-for. Maheesh Theekshana and Angelo Mathews took two wickets each while Dilshan Madushanka and Dhananjaya de Silva picked up a couple between them.

Chasing the paltry target of 83, the Sri Lankan opening duo of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis hit a flurry of boundaries and stitched a 64-run partnership inside eight overs. The latter departed for a 27-ball 33 as De Silva joined Nissanka in the middle. Zimbabwe were all but out of the contest and were just going through the motions. Nissanka ended the away side's misery when he hit talismanic all-rounder Sikandar Raza for a six over deep mid-wicket.

With this win, Sri Lanka bagged the T20I series 2-1 after winning the ODIs by a 2-0 margin. Hasaranga was fittingly adjudged Player of the Match while veteran Mathews was named Player of the Series.

Here's how 'X' users reacted to Sri Lanka's thumping win: