Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka turned the game on his side, the Harare Bolts, around with a match-winning performance in the ZimAfro T10 League as he grasped the game by its horns against Bulawayo Brave Jaguars on Wednesday. Requiring 19 runs off the final 18 deliveries, Shanaka showcased massive power-hitting abilities as he spanked four consecutive sixes off West Indies’ T20 World Cup hero, Carlos Brathwaite, to help his team register an enthralling win over Jaguars at the Harare Sports Club.
The calmer Shanaka became, the more annoyed the Bolts were, especially when their prey was not an easy one. He made the right statement at the start of the eighth over with a no-look six – launching the ball deep into the mid-wicket boundary, which, of course, sent out a clear message to the opposition.
Carlos Brathwaite tried to fine-tune this time with a yorker, but Shanaka was ready for it. He launched the next ball over the long-on boundary, which put more pressure on the Jaguars. Desperate to curb Shanaka, Brathwaite changed his angle, bowling around the wicket.
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Unrewarded, though that was yet to come as Dasun Shanaka walked across all his deck to dispatch the ball over the point boundary for his third consecutive six. With only one run needing to win, Shanaka showed no mercy. He hammered the last delivery deep into the mid-wicket stands, and that sealed a comfortable win for the Bolts of Harare.
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Dasun Shanaka finishes in style! 💥 Four consecutive SIXES to seal the win for Harare Bolts by 7 wickets! 🔥🙌#T10League #InTheWild #CricketsFastestFormat #ZimAfroT10 pic.twitter.com/yhNel7kKo1— ZimAfroT10 (@ZimAfroT10) September 24, 2024
This victory sent the Bolts to the top of the points table, their lead with six points enough to overtake Nys Lagos by a hair in the net run rate count. Shanaka’s monstrous innings not only made sure his team was home but also renewed his name as a game-changer.
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He has shown promise in his form, and with a strong comeback to the Sri Lankan national team, he will be an all-rounded might for the Lankan Lions in their forthcoming international matches. Third-placed Harare Bolts will clash with second-placed Nys Lagos on September 25 in what promises to be a defining clash for the top place in the ZimAfro T10 league.
