Confidence-booster for hosts before home series against India
Colombo: Niroshan Dickwella (81, 118b, 6×4) and Asela Gunaratne (80 n o, 151b, 6×4) guided Sri Lanka to a record 388 target Tuesday to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets Tuesday in a pulsating end to their one-off Test at the R Premadasa Stadium here. The victory, will no doubt give their morale a huge boost before they take on India in their next Test series at the end of the month.
The two put on a crucial 121 runs for the sixth wicket to fashion the record chase. Sri Lanka’s previous best was against South Africa in 2006, when they achieved a 352-run target. Tuesday’s chase was also the highest in Asia and fifth best in Tests.
Man of the match Gunaratne anchored the chase to perfection after Dickwella’s departure, putting on an unbeaten 67-run partnership with Dilruwan Perera (29 not out) to take Sri Lanka to victory.
The win in Colombo was a boost for new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal. “It’s always tough when you’re batting in the fourth innings but I told the team that they should play their normal game and they played some outstanding innings, especially Dickwella and Asela,” Chandimal said.
When asked to comment on the forthcoming Test series against India, the newly-elected skipper said, “No doubt, they are a very tough side… but then this victory will do our confidence a world of good. I am sure we will stand up to them.”
Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer (4/150) claimed four wickets with his leg-spin, but then in the end it was Gunaratne, who had the last laugh handling the visitors’ spinners with ease.
Sri Lanka were also lucky when Dickwella survived a stumping chance off Sikandar Raza’s off-spin on 37 and was then dropped by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva on 63.
The stumping reprieve cost Zimbabwe dearly. It was referred to the third umpire, who ruled him not out despite replays showing his toe was on the crease – a case where the batsman can be given out.
Earlier, Cremer sent overnight batsman Kusal Mendis (66, 101b, 6×4) back to the hut after Sri Lanka resumed on 170-3. He then struck again to have Angelo Mathews (25) caught and bowled.
For Sri Lanka, veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath also stood out with five wicket hauls in each innings. He got the man of the series award for his overall match figures of 11-249. Herath’s eighth 10-wicket haul took him past Ian Botham and Waqar Younis and placed him fourth in the list of bowlers of bowlers who have taken 10 wickets or more the maximum number of times in Test cricket.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 356 and 377 lost to Sri Lanka 346 and 391 for six (Niroshan Dickwella 81, Asela Gunaratne 80 n o) by six wickets.