Zimbabwe overcome Thisara blitz in Dhaka

DHAKA: Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza and Tendai Chatara combined to lead Zimbabwe to a 12-run win over Sri Lanka — their first victory against a Full Member at a neutral venue in 15 years — in a tri-nations One-Day International here Wednesday.

Raza made an unbeaten 81 and took the key wicket of Kusal Perera, who made 80. He also took two catches, of Angelo Mathews and former Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera. It was the Thisara catch that finally swung the game Zimbabwe’s way. Thisara climbed into Graeme Cremer for 15 runs in the 38th over, after his side slipped to 199 for 6 chasing 291 to win.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s dismissal in the 40th over didn’t deter him either. Thisara hit Cremer over long-off for his second six before an edge through third man brought the equation down to under a run-a-ball.

Akila Dananjaya then holed out at cover, and although replays showed that Tendai Chatara may have marginally overstepped, the third umpire’s decision went in favour of Zimbabwe.Thisara picked singles thereafter but after he had struck a huge six in the 47th over, he struck a low full toss to Raza at deep midwicket.

Thisara’s exit, after his 37-ball 64 with five fours and three sixes, was the opening Zimbabwe needed as Chatara eked out the last wicket, that of Dushmantha Chameera in the 49th over.Openers Masakadza and Solomon Mire had earlier given Zimbabwe a strong start with a 75-run stand. Masakadza blasted Suranga Lakmal for two fours in the first over and Mire bludgeoned five fours in his 37-ball 34.

After Mire fell in the 13th over, Ervine followed cheaply. Masakadza and Taylor added 57 runs for the third wicket. The well-set Masakadza fell in Gunaratne’s first over after making 73 off 83 balls with 10 boundaries. Taylor fell for a 51-ball 38, before Raza and Malcolm Waller added 57 for the fifth wicket. Waller slammed two fours and a six in his 29 off 35 balls.

Raza though lifted Zimbabwe’s momentum towards the end, striking Lakmal for five fours in two overs.

TOSS: SRI LANKA

ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS

Masakadza c sub b Gunaratne 73

Mire c Mendis b T Perera 34

Ervine c Mathews b Lakmal 2

Taylor b T Perera 38

Raza not out 81

Waller c Tharanga b Gunaratne 29

Moor c Dananjaya b Gunaratne 19

Extras (LB-4, W-10) 14

Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 290

Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-85, 3-142, 4-169, 5-226, 6-287.

Did not bat: Cremer, Jarvis, Chatara, Muzarabani.

BOWLING: Lakmal 10-0-70-1 (2w), Dananjaya 10-0-67-0, T Perera 10-0-43-2 (2w), Chameera 10-0-51-0 (5w), Hasaranga 3-0-18-0, Gunaratne 7-0-37-3 (1w).

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS

K Perera c Muzarabani b Raza 80

Tharanga c Moor b Jarvis 11

Mendis c Cremer b Chatara 0

Mathews c Raza b Muzarabani 42

Chandimal b Jarvis 34

Gunaratne st Taylor b Cremer 4

T Perera c Raza b Chatara 64

Hasaranga c Moor b Cremer 11

Dananjaya c Cremer b Chatara 8

Lakmal not out 5

Chameera c sub b Chatara 1

Extras (B-4, LB-3, NB-2, W-9) 18

Total (All out, 48.1 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-47, 3-132, 4-157, 5-181, 6-194, 7-224, 8-261, 9-275, 10-278.

BOWLING: Raza 10-0-54-1 (1w), Jarvis 8-0-56-2, Chatara 8.1-0-33-4 (3w), Muzarabani 9-0-47-1 (1w, 2nb), Cremer 10-0-62-2 (1w), Waller 3-0-19-0 (2w).

Match officials: Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Sharfuddoula Saikat; TV umpire: Chettithody Shamsuddin; Match referee: David Boon.