Cricketers of the Week: 2nd July – 9th July

#5 Niroshan Dickwella

Back to back centuries for the Sri Lankan opener

Sri Lanka’s dashing opener smashed back to back centuries in the third and fourth ODI against Zimbabwe at Hambantota. In the third, chasing 310, Sri Lanka romped home in the 48^th over thanks to centuries from their openers, Dickwella (102) and Gunathilaka (116), as they added 229 for the opening stand in 37 overs.

In the fourth ODI, batting first, Sri Lanka posted 300, thanks to another double century opening stand, a record in itself. While Gunathilaka fell on 87, Dickwella scored 116 in just 118 balls, a staggering strike-rate considering, he had hit only 8 fours.

Unfortunately, the second century came in a losing cause as Zimbabwe smashed 219 in just 29.2 overs to win the game by D/L. That was largely thanks to the efforts of Craig Ervine, who scored a 55-ball 68. Zimbabwe thereby kept the 5-ODI series alive winning their second ODI, after they had won the first ODI chasing down 316.