Srilanka Tour Of Zimbabwe

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Fixture

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Zimbabwe Select XI v Sri Lankans, Bulawayo, 4th day


Top order seals draw for Zimbabweans

Zimbabwe Select XI 159 (Mendis 4-59, Fernando 3-19) and 238 for 5 (Masakadza 72, Matsikenyeri 71, Chibhabha 59, Mendis 4-86) drew with Sri Lankans 567 for 4 dec (Sangakkara 174, Kapugedera 150, Tharanga 88, Udawatte 55, Kandamby 55*, Utseya 3-133)

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Zimbabwe A v Sri Lankans, Bulawayo

Mubarak shines in abandoned game

Sri Lankans 235 (Mubarak 88*, Tharanga 71, Rainsford 3 for 29, Waller 3 for 46) v Zimbabwe A - Match Abandoned

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one sided match tha first one day to bilkul

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Sri Lanka outclass Zimbabwe by 9 wkts
HARARE: Sri Lanka posted an easy 9-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second One-day International here on Saturday.Batting first, Zimbabwean batting lineup was shattered by devastating bowling by Feeroze Mahroof and Ajantha Mendis and the whole team collapsed for a mere 67 runs in 31 overs. The highest individual score was 12, made by wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu and the extras were also 12, followed by 10 each from S Matsikenyeri and SC Williams as eight of their batsmen could not enter into double figure.Mendis captured four and Mahroof three wickets.Sri Lanka achieved the easy target of 68 runs for the loss of only one wicket and won the match by nine wickets in the 18th over.Upal Tharanga made 26 and Kumar Sangakkara 28 and both remained not out.

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Third ODI between SL and Zim today
HARARAE: The third one day international between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will be played here on Monday.

Prior to the match, Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene expressed hope that his team would be able to secure victory at the Harare Sports club and seal the five match series.

It may be recalled that Jayawardene’s men had won the first ODI by six wickets and the second by nine as a result of which, they are holding a 2-0 lead in the series.

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Third ODI between SL and Zim today
HARARAE: The third one day international between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will be played here on Monday.

Prior to the match, Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene expressed hope that his team would be able to secure victory at the Harare Sports club and seal the five match series.

It may be recalled that Jayawardene’s men had won the first ODI by six wickets and the second by nine as a result of which, they are holding a 2-0 lead in the series.

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Zimbabwe spark but Sri Lanka make it 3-0
HARARAE: A match reduced to 28 overs produced the series'' most compelling game in Harare, and the first performance by Zimbabwe to cause Sri Lanka a headache. Hamilton Masakadza''s pleasantly carefree strokeplay took Zimbabwe to within touching distance of their target. But in spite of Stuart Matsikenyeri pummelling 19 from 10 deliveries, late wickets cost Zimbabwe the match and, consequently, the series.

Nevertheless, after the first two drubbings Zimbabwe received, at least their supporters witnessed a contest this time. Rain and a soggy outfield delayed the start and, if anything, the reduction in overs caught Sri Lanka unawares. Their total of 171 for 7 was far from insurmountable, and with Masakadza timing the ball so sweetly, Zimbabwe were favourites when 28 were needed from the last three overs.

Masakadza has shown his potential of late, starring in the Kenya tri-series last month, and for the first time this series he gave Zimbabwe the sort of confident start they so needed, sharing with Vusi Sibanda in an opening stand worth 76. Farveez Maharoof was treated with contempt, mowed over midwicket for two huge sixes before standing tall to cut him away for four. With Sibanda happy to tuck singles, the combination worked beautifully for Zimbabwe, whose fifty came from 41 balls.

Thilan Thushara made the breakthrough for Sri Lanka but Masakadza motored onwards, registering his ninth half-century from 49 balls and carving Thushara for two crunching boundaries. However, Thushara got his man in the same over, and Zimbabwe still needed 38.

Mahela Jayawardene wheeled Ajantha Mendis back into the attack, whose first four overs had proved expensive, and he immediately had Elton Chigumbura bowled for a duck to redress the balance. Tatenda Taibu was the key for Zimbabwe, and had moved anonymously onto 31 in an innings dominated by the reverse-sweep, but he too fell when he was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara. Despite the tumble of wickets Matsikenyeri gave Zimbabwe hope with a flat six off Mendis over midwicket, followed by four through point. Ten were needed from the final over.

Thushara was due to take the last over, but Jayawardene tossed the ball to Muttiah Muralitharan - a decision which ultimately turned the match in Sri Lanka''s favour, as Zimbabwe lost Matsikenyeri. With six needed off the final delivery, Sri Lanka had tightened the noose impressively, but only at the very last minute.

An encouraging performance from Zimbabwe''s batsmen, then, but also from their bowlers. Chigumbura struck two early blows, including Jayawardene whose lazy cut smacked of complacency, while Tawanda Mupariwa''s 4 for 39 helped restrict Sri Lanka''s strokeplay. Kumar Sangakkara, however, dug deep with a fine 57 from 59 balls.

Had Proper Utseya accepted a return catch from him on 16, the match might well have been Zimbabwe''s for the taking.

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Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe fourth ODI today

HARARE: The fourth one-dayer between West Indies and Zimbabwe would be played here today.

Zimbabwe finally showed some mettle in a truncated third ODI, pushing Sri Lanka to the finish as the visitors just about managed to snatch a five-run win.

Sri Lanka will be a touch concerned with the performance of their fast bowlers who faltered after an impressive display in the second ODI. Farveez Maharoof, Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara conceded 105 runs between them in 16 overs at a run-rate of over 6.5 in third ODI.

With the series in the bag, and the reserve players still to be given a look-in, some changes in the bowling department are inevitable.

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