Raza, Chatara excel as Zimbabwe down SL

DHKA: Fast bowler Tendai Chatara claimed four wickets to help Zimbabwe edge Sri Lanka by 12 runs in the second one-day international of the tri-nation tournament here on Wednesday. Chasing 291 for victory, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 278 in 48.1 overs despite a fighting 37-ball 64 by Thisara Perera. Opener Kusal Perera top-scored with 80. Zimbabwe batsmen Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza set up the win with half-centuries that took the team’s total to 290-6 after being put into bat first. In reply, Thisara Perera, hitting five fours and three sixes, fought a lonely battle after Sri Lanka slipped to 181-5, but his departure spelt doom for the islanders. Chatara, who returned impressive figures of 4-33 in 8.1 overs, ran through the Sri Lankan tail including the prized wicket of Thisara Perera. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews made 42 and Dinesh Chandimal added 34 runs to show some fight but Zimbabwe bowlers made regular breakthroughs to keep them in the contest.

Earlier, opener Masakadza gave Zimbabwe a solid start with his 73-run knock before middle-order batsman Raza added an unbeaten 81 off 67 balls — his second successive ODI fifty.

Zimbabwe:

H. Masakadza c Sub b Gunathilaka 73

S. Mire c Mendis b Perera 34

C. Ervine c Mathews b Lakmal 2

B. Taylor b Perera 38

Sikandar Raza not out 81

M. Waller c Tharanga b Gunaratne 29

P. Moor c Dananjaya b Gunaratne 19

G. Cremer not out 0

Extras: (lb4, w10) 14

Total: (six wickets, 50 overs) 290

Bowling: Lakmal 10-0-70-1 (w2), Dananjaya 10-0-67-0, Perera 10-0-43-2 (w2), Chameera 10-0-51-0 (w5), Hasaranga 3-0-18-0, Gunaratne 7-0-37-0 (w1)

Sri Lanka:

K. Perera c Muzarabani b Raza 80

U. Tharanga c Moor b Jarvis 11

K. Mendis c Cremer b Chatara 0

A. Mathews c Raza b Muzarabani 42

D. Chandimal b Jarvis 34

A. Gunaratne St Taylor b Cremer 4

T. Perera c Raza b Chatara 64

W. Hasaranga c Moor b Cremer 11

A. Dananjaya c Cremer b Chatara 8

S. Lakmal not out 5

Chameera c Sub b Chatar 1

Extras: (b4, lb3, w9, nb 2) 18

Total: (all out; 48.1 overs) 278

Bowling: Raza 10-0-54-1(w1), Jarvis 8-0-56-2, Chatara 8.1-0-33-4(w3), Muzarabani 9-0-47-1(nb2, w1) Cremer 10-0-62-2(w1), Waller 3-0-19-0 (w3)

Result: Zimbabwe win by 12 runs

Man of the match: Sikandar Raza

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (Aus), Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN)

TV Umpire: Chettithody Shamsuddin (IND)

Match Referee: David Boon (AUS).