Zimbabwe needed 10 runs in the final over to register a historic win over Sri Lanka. During the hour of need, Dilshan Madushanka appeared as the hero of the Sri Lanka cricket team looking at that time. Madushanka replied with a hat-trick. Three back-to-back wickets in the first three balls of the last over. In the remaining three deliveries, he conceded only 2 runs. Sri Lanka left Harare Sports Club cricket ground as the winner of the first of the 2-match ODI series.

Dilshan Madushanka got the player of the match award for his hat-trick in the final over and ended up with a four-fer. Sikandar Raza was the first batter of the over who lost his wicket against the pacer. Madushanka tried to deliver a yorker, but it was a low full toss. The experienced Zimbabwe batter tried something fancy. Raza walks across the stumps to scoop it over the man at short fine leg but fails to connect, and the middle stump gets uprooted. He departed for 92 off 87.

In the second ball of the over, Madushanka went full and across the right-handed Brad Evans, who spooned the ball towards the fine leg, where Asitha Fernando ran over his right shoulder and took a safe catch. Richard Ngarava tried to find the route to go big and ended up bowled out. That's how Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka completed his hat-trick.

DILSHAN MADUSHANKA TOOK A HAT-TRICK IN THE FINAL OVER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5g0p8JjJ96

— DK Rajpurohit 🇮🇳 (@DeviSin61134860) August 29, 2025

Read More: Duleep Trophy 2025: Hat-trick from Auqib Nabi put East Zone in disarray

Summary of the match: 

Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 298 in exchange for 6 wickets. Pathum Nissanka, an opener, scored 76 runs to provide his team some stability in the beginning. The visitors got the required boost in their run rate from their lower middle-order batters Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis. Janith remained not out for 70 off 47, and Mendis scored 57 off 36.

Chasing the handsome competitive target in the second innings, Ben Curran scored 70 off 90, skipper Sean Williams scored 57 off 54, Raza got 92, and Tony Munyonga remained on the crease for 43*, but they couldn't touch the target because of Madushanka's hat trick. 

Visitors Sri Lanka claimed a dramatic thrilling win against the hosts Zimbabwe after the 24-year-old left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka delivered the match-winning ODI hat-trick to secure a seven-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match away ODI series at Harare on Friday (August 29). 

Chasing down the 299-run target, as Sri Lanka scored 298/6 in 50 overs, Zimbabwe had a horrible start, as the hosts lost two wickets in the first over before opening the scoreline. However, the next batters turned the game dramatically, as Ben Curran (70), captain Sean Williams (57), Sikandar Raza (92), and Tony Munyonga (43*) almost became the heroes for the Chevrons. 

In the last over of the match, Zimbabwe needed 10 runs to win with five wickets in hand, and Raza and Munyonga had already built up a powerful 128-run partnership for the sixth wicket in 114 balls. The left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka had the duty in the last over, who delivered the over brilliantly as the hosts ended their innings at 291/8 in 50 overs.

See Also: Shubman Gill set to begin training at CoE ahead of Asia Cup 2025

ZIM vs SL 2025, 1st ODI: Dilshan Madushanka recorded ODI hat-trick in the thrilling final over

After Madushanka bowled Raza for 92 runs on the first ball of the over, Brad Evans was caught out at short fine for a golden duck on the next delivery, and the left-arm pacer completed his first ODI hat-trick with a bowled to Richard Ngarava on the next delivery. In the last three balls, Madushanka conceded only two runs to secure a seven-run victory for the Lankans. Now, check some stats of Madushanka's latest ODI hat-trick. 

DILSHAN MADUSHANKA TOOK A HAT-TRICK IN THE FINAL OVER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5g0p8JjJ96

— DK Rajpurohit 🇮🇳 (@DeviSin61134860) August 29, 2025

• It was the 52nd ODI hat-trick.
• Madushanka became the eighth Sri Lankan bowler to record an ODI hat-trick.
• It was the 11th time that a Sri Lankan bowler recorded an ODI hat-trick.
• After Chaminda Vaas and Wanindu Hasaranga, Madushanka became the third Sri Lankan to record an ODI hat-trick against Zimbabwe.
• Madushanka became the seventh bowler to record an ODI hat-trick against Zimbabwe.
• It was the eighth time that a bowler recorded an ODI hat-trick against Zimbabwe. 

Sri Lankan bowlers with ODI hat-tricks

*Lasith Malinga's first ODI hat-trick was the four consecutive wickets, which was the first instance in international cricket history.

Dilshan Madushanka ended the game as the Player of the Match with the match-winning bowling figures of 10-0-62-4. 

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory by seven runs against Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a commanding total of 298/6 in 50 overs, thanks to consistent contributions from the middle order. After losing opener Nishan Madushka early, Pathum Nissanka anchored the innings with a composed 76 runs off 92 balls, striking 12 boundaries. His effort set the stage for Sri Lanka to build a strong foundation despite facing disciplined bowling from Zimbabwe.

The middle order played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s innings. Kusal Mendis made 38 before falling to Sean Williams, while Samarawickrama chipped in with 35. Captain Charith Asalanka struggled and departed cheaply, but Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 70 off 47 balls was the highlight of the innings. Displaying powerful stroke play, he accelerated the scoring rate brilliantly in the death overs. Supporting him, Kamindu Mendis smashed 57 off 36 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to a near 300-run total.

See Also: India set for asia cup 2025 without jersey sponsor as BCCI plans ahead

Zimbabwe’s bowling had mixed success. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani picked up crucial wickets, while Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza used their variations to control the middle overs. However, the bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka in the final ten overs as the visitors plundered boundaries. Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis ensured the scoring momentum never dropped, with the last-wicket stand adding valuable runs that ultimately made the difference. Zimbabwe was left with a stiff chase of 299 to win.

Dilshan Madushanka hat trick guides Sri Lanka to victory

Chasing the target, Zimbabwe suffered a disastrous start, losing Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor without troubling the scoreboard, both dismissed by Asitha Fernando. Ben Curran played a fighting knock of 70 but couldn’t convert it into a match-winning effort. The backbone of the chase was skipper Sean Williams’ 57 and star all-rounder Sikandar Raza’s explosive 92 off 87 balls, which kept Zimbabwe in the hunt. However, crucial wickets at regular intervals meant the required rate kept climbing.

The game went down to the wire as Zimbabwe needed 10 runs in the final over. Raza’s dismissal in the penultimate over by Dilshan Madushanka turned the match in Sri Lanka’s favor. Despite Tony Munyonga’s unbeaten 43, Zimbabwe fell short at 291/8 in 50 overs, handing Sri Lanka a narrow win. Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka starred with three wickets each, while Kamindu Mendis provided vital breakthroughs. The win gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and set the tone for an exciting finale.

With the 17th edition of IPL commencing on 22nd March, many cricket fanatics eagerly anticipate an intense and exciting summer cricketing clash between the Indian cities and states. The Mumbai Indians squad for the upcoming edition has primarily focused on revamping with the elements of young and emerging players that could benefit their future goals and aspirations.

With the team making a significant change of their five-time champions captain, Rohit Sharma, and giving the responsibility to Hardik Pandya, it is evident that the team is up to something about their plans. So, here is a list of the top four players to check out from the Mumbai Indians squad.

Hardik Pandya

From a long run of rumours and speculations, Hardik Pandya shifted from his previous squad, Gujarat Titans, to his first franchise, Mumbai Indians, in an all-cash deal of INR 15 Crore. Though many cricket fanatics were amused by the decision to make him the team’s captain, Hardik Pandya could be the significant initiator in the plans of Mumbai Indians. Recently getting prone to injuries, Pandya is set to make a robust comeback as the team’s jack of all trades. In his 139-match IPL stint, he has made 2309 runs and scalped 53 wickets.

Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma has risen ever since his inclusion in the Mumbai Indians squad from the 2022 edition. With his ability to take the game deep and enhance their middle-order batting capacity, he became one of the top run-scorers in the team. After back-to-back solid seasons, he earned his maiden T20I call-up for the series against West Indies, where he didn’t disappoint with the bat. His ability to switch gears alongside his useful off-breaks makes him a premium product in the arsenal’s setup. In his IPL career, he has made 740 runs in just 25 innings, with a commendable average of 38.95.

See also: IPL 2024: Top 4 Chennai Super Kings players to be in focus

Gerald Coetzee

Gerald Coetzee, the South African quick gun, was one of Mumbai Indians’ initial auction choices for Rs 5 crore, with a base price of Rs 2 crore. Coetzee played four T20Is and collected six wickets. He played his last 20-over match against India in 2023. The five-time winners are well-known for their fast bowling, which the club is working hard to enhance for the IPL 2024. The Proteas pacer will support Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Jason Behrendoff’s pace attack. The highlights of his first IPL season will be his quick pace and wicket-scalping technique in crucial moments.

Dilshan Madhushanaka

The Mumbai Indians spent Rs 4.6 crore on Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka as their second pacer buy at the recent auction. In 14 T20 matches, the seamer has 14 wickets at an average of 30.93. It’s not unexpected that the addition of Sri Lankan pacer and South African quickie Gerald Coetzee has enhanced the Mumbai Indians’ pace-bowling department, which already has Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Jason Behrendoff, to name a few. With this player’s debut, the five-time champion bowling team will become one of the tournament’s strongest.

The Indian Premier League has become a gateway to execution and the display of impeccable cricketing talent. It is not a lie that we have seen many top and prominent players making a mark amongst the cricket fanatics, thanks to this cash-rich and massive fanbase tournament. Be it for a domestic player creating a breakthrough in the Indian team space or a foreign player making their fanbase amongst the Indian fanbase.

As it implies, the auctions in December have seen some intriguing additions to the IPL family, and they would create an impact in giving an excellent kickstart to their IPL stint. This listicle will look at the top four debutants to watch out for in the upcoming IPL 2024 edition.

Rachin Ravindra- Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings, the reigning five-time champions, have signed all-rounder Rachin Ravindra for Rs 1.8 crore. In his T20I career, he has scored only 146 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.18 and taken 11 wickets. Rachin Ravindra distinguished out for New Zealand at the recent World Cup 2023 tournament.

Ravindra took full use of his place up the order, scoring three three-digit figures for a total of 565 runs, the most by any batter making his World Cup debut. And with Devon Conway being ruled out for most of the tournament due to a significant thumb injury for the next two months, Rachin Ravindra can fill up the boots of a vacant opening partner with Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Gerald Coetzee- Mumbai Indians

Gerald Coetzee, a South African quickgun, joined the Mumbai Indians for Rs 5 crore. Coetzee had a base price of Rs 2 crore. Coetzee played four T20Is and took six wickets. He played his final 20-over match against India in 2023. The five-time winners are well-known for their excellent speed bowling, and the team is working hard to improve it for the IPL 2024.

The Proteas pacer will assist Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Hardik Pandya’s pace attack. The highlights of his maiden IPL season will be his rapid pace and wicket-scalping technique in essential situations.

See Also: 5 players with most runs In IPL ft Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Dilshan Madhushanaka- Mumbai Indians

In the IPL 2024 auction, the Mumbai Indians spent Rs 4.6 crore for Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast Dilshan Madushanka. In 14 T20 matches, the seamer has taken 14 wickets at an average of 30.93.

It is hardly surprising that the arrival of the Sri Lankan pacer and South African quickie Gerald Coetzee has improved the Mumbai Indians’ pace-bowling department, which already has Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, and Jason Behrendoff, to mention a few. This player’s debut will make the five-time champion bowling team one of the strongest in the tournament.

Shamar Joseph- Lucknow Super Giants

Though he has got his name in the IPL ecosystem as a replacement for Mark Wood from the Lucknow Super Giants, Shamar Joseph did the talking with the ball after his brilliant and memorable performance for the Carribean side against the Aussies. Joseph made his West Indies debut in the drawn series against Australia, dismissing Steven Smith with his first ball in Test cricket, which the team lost in Adelaide.

He became a worldwide sensation when, despite an ailing foot, he claimed seven wickets in the final innings to lead West Indies to a stunning eight-run victory at the Gabba in the second Test. It was West Indies’ first Test victory in Australia since 1997. As his performance suggests, it is not surprising to see Shamar Joseph being the major contributor in the LSG’s bowling attack and, of course, an IPL debutant to check out for.