Cricketers of the Week: 16th July to 23rd July

#4 Niroshan Dickwella

In Colombo, Zimbabwe almost pulled off a heist, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 388. Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 178 for 4 and 203 for 5.

Sri Lankan keeper Dickwella, who scored a priceless 81, added 121 vital runs for the sixth wicket with Asela Gunaratne, who then went on to score an unbeaten 80 to take Sri Lanka to a record chase in the final innings of the Test at Colombo.

Sri Lanka had lost the ODI series to Zimbabwe already and a Test defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe at its fortress would have been a catastrophe.

The hosts, who had conceded a 10-run lead after the first innings, let Zimbabwe score a massive 377 in their second innings, after having them on the ropes at 23 for 4 and 59 for 5.

Nevertheless, it was a match for the gods with Gunaratne picking Player of the Match, after he had already contributed 45 in Sri Lanka’s first innings. Rangana Herath too was brilliant, with a five-wicket haul in the first innings and a six-wicket haul in the second.