SL vs ZIM: Weather Forecast and Pitch Report at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium– Zimbabwe Tour of Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI

Sri Lanka lock horns with Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the three-match series on Tuesday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 5 wickets and would be looking to replicate a similar performance in the next match as well and thereby seal the series. Though, they would be hoping to not concede as many runs as they did in the first ODI.

Zimbabwe batted first in the first ODI and notched a big total of 296 runs in the first innings. T Kaitano played his debut one-day international and scored a valiant 42 off 50 deliveries.

He stitched a crucial 80-run partnership for the opening wicket with Chakabva, who also made a significant contribution with the bat. He played a valiant knock of 72 runs off 81 deliveries, including 6 fours and 1 sixes.

Sean Williams then showed his class with a brilliant display of stroke-play. He hit 9 fours and 2 sixes en-route to a heart-warming century off just 87 deliveries. His knock guided the team to a 296-run total in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka made a solid start, in pursuit of the total. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka added 40 runs before the former got out after scoring a good-looking cameo of 26 off 24 balls.

Nissanka, however, kept scoring boundaries and took Sri Lanka closer to the target. He made 75 off 71 deliveries while stitching a crucial partnership with Dinesh Chandimal.

The latter, yet again, showed why he is such an important member of Sri Lanka’s 50-over set-up. Chandimal started off slowly, as usual, before shifting his gears. He scored 75 runs in 91 deliveries, a knock which was laced with 4 fours and 1 six.

Dinesh Chandimal was supported brilliantly by Charith Asalanka, who played an equally vital knock of 71 runs in 68 deliveries, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. Sri Lanka, as a result of those knocks, chased down the score in 48.3 overs.

Zimbabwe bowlers were guilty of not applying pressure for a longer period of time and gave a lot of loose deliveries to the opposition. They couldn’t pick wickets at regular intervals and allowed Sri Lanka to stitch big partnerships, which eventually cost them the game.

SL vs ZIM: Weather Forecast and Pitch Report at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium– Zimbabwe Tour of Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI

Pitch Report

The pitch at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is a batting paradise. The batsmen love to bat at this surface. The last game between Sri Lanka and Ireland saw a high-scoring contest between the two teams.

Zimbabwe managed to post a par score of 296 runs. Sri Lanka batted even better and chased it down inside 49 overs. The pitch isn’t conducive to spinners. Seamers got the majority of the wicket in the last ODI and is likely to pick more in the next game.

Weather Forecast:

The second ODI between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe should not be affected by rain, but cloudy skies can be expected throughout the match, with temperatures fluctuating between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius.