COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP)— Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a last ball thriller in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo on Sunday.

Requiring six runs off the last two balls, tail-ender Dushmantha Chameera smashed a boundary off the penultimate ball.

Then he pushed the last ball to square leg, scampering for two runs to keep Sri Lanka’s unbeaten record against Zimbabwe in T20 Internationals intact.

Sri Lanka owed the win to 36-year-old former captain Angelo Mathews who, playing his first T20 International in almost three years, top scored with 46.

Mathews had last featured in a T20 international in March 2021, and was recalled to the side as Sri Lanka look to bolster the team with experienced players in the lead up to this year’s T20 World Cup.

But Mathews paid tribute to Chameera.

“The best knock came from Dushmantha Chameera who scored those six runs in two balls,” Mathews said.

“All our hard work would have been useless had he not connected.”

Sri Lanka were 51 for four when Mathews walked out to bat, and added 32 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka.

It was a crucial rebuilding period for Sri Lanka, but they were back to square one when Sikandar Raza struck twice in his last over to reduce Sri Lanka to 83 for six.

Together with fellow all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, Mathews then was involved in a 55-run stand to take Sri Lanka close to victory.

Shanaka, who was axed as captain following last year’s 50-over World Cup, finished unbeaten on 26.

Sri Lanka required 14 runs off the last over.

Mathews hit two boundaries from the first two balls bowled by Blessing Muzarabani to bring the equation down to six from four balls.

He attempted another big hit in the fourth delivery, but failed to clear the mid-wicket boundary and was dismissed for 46 from 38 balls with five fours and one six.

Chameera knocked off the remaining runs while Sikandar Raza’s brilliant all-round performance was in vain.

The Zimbabwe captain had top scored with 62 in his team’s total of 143 and then picked up three wickets, but that proved not to be enough.

It was Raza’s 13th T20 half-century. His 62 came off 42 balls with five fours and two sixes.

“We are disappointed with the way the result went, but certainly not disappointed with the way we fought and courage we showed,” said Raza.

“It was a great game to be part of. We hung in there and we are not going to blame the conditions. We have two more games and we will bounce back.”

The next match is on Tuesday in Colombo.