Sri Lanka secured a 225-run victory against Zimbabwe in the first test played at the Harare Sports Club. The stand-in Captain Rangana Herath, 38, who in the twilight of his test career has been thrust to the top slot, would have heaved a huge sigh of relief for being able to steal a march on Zimbabwe, who were hoping for a win in their milestone test. Dropped catches and blunders in umpiring had helped Sri Lanka to amass 537 all out in their first innings of the two-test series. Despite the absence of a Decision Review System and their poor fielding, which boosted their rivals’ chances, Zimbabwe posted 373 in reply as Captain Graeme Cremer scored his maiden test century to avoid the follow-on.
Upul Tharanga, recalled after one year to fill in for the absence of injury-hit Captain Angelo Mathews and Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, made the most of his opportunity on the slow pitch on second day, scoring his second test century after ten years. Opener Kusal Perera, who had been dropped twice, dominated the first day with his maiden test century.
Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 04th test century, were able to set their host a massive 411-run lead losing 6 wickets for 247 when rain and bad light forced to draw stumps in the last session of the penultimate day. The 28-year-old Karunaratne, who had hit a half century in the first innings, struck a well-crafted 94-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored his second test fifty, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position.
Zimbabwe, which went onto their 100th test with six consecutive defeats, lost all their wickets for 186 despite Skipper Cremer’s lone crusade to settle for a draw. The top order collapsed in quick succession until Cremer took on to continue his first innings’ heroics with the help of Sean Williams who struck a gritty 40 runs in bold defiance. The Zimbabwe Captain was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance studded with his century in the first innings, 43 runs in the second innings and
Elated by his side’s win, which incidentally was Sri Lanka’s consecutive fourth test victory and first such by a Sri Lankan test captain on his debut, Herath had attributed the credit to his fast bowlers, who had taken 08 wickets with test debutant Lahiru Kumara bagging 03, 01 in the first innings and 02 crucial wickets in the second innings. Kumara had removed Opener Brian Chari for 10 in his very first over and trapped Peter Moor, who had scored a half century in the first innings, lbw for 7 thus denying Zimbabwe’s chance of staying at the crease for their full quota of overs on the final day.
The Chevrons, coached by former bowler cum Captain Heath Streak, will host Sri Lankans at the same venue for the second test beginning on 06th November.
Upul Tharanga, recalled after one year to fill in for the absence of injury-hit Captain Angelo Mathews and Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, made the most of his opportunity on the slow pitch on second day, scoring his second test century after ten years. Opener Kusal Perera, who had been dropped twice, dominated the first day with his maiden test century.
Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 04th test century, were able to set their host a massive 411-run lead losing 6 wickets for 247 when rain and bad light forced to draw stumps in the last session of the penultimate day. The 28-year-old Karunaratne, who had hit a half century in the first innings, struck a well-crafted 94-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored his second test fifty, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position.
Zimbabwe, which went onto their 100th test with six consecutive defeats, lost all their wickets for 186 despite Skipper Cremer’s lone crusade to settle for a draw. The top order collapsed in quick succession until Cremer took on to continue his first innings’ heroics with the help of Sean Williams who struck a gritty 40 runs in bold defiance. The Zimbabwe Captain was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance studded with his century in the first innings, 43 runs in the second innings and
Elated by his side’s win, which incidentally was Sri Lanka’s consecutive fourth test victory and first such by a Sri Lankan test captain on his debut, Herath had attributed the credit to his fast bowlers, who had taken 08 wickets with test debutant Lahiru Kumara bagging 03, 01 in the first innings and 02 crucial wickets in the second innings. Kumara had removed Opener Brian Chari for 10 in his very first over and trapped Peter Moor, who had scored a half century in the first innings, lbw for 7 thus denying Zimbabwe’s chance of staying at the crease for their full quota of overs on the final day.
The Chevrons, coached by former bowler cum Captain Heath Streak, will host Sri Lankans at the same venue for the second test beginning on 06th November.
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