Innings Zimbabwe 356 (Ervine 160, Waller 36, Herath 5-116) v Sri Lanka
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
File photo – Rangana Herath claimed his 30th Test five-for with the wicket of Donald Tiripano © AFP
Sri Lanka claimed Zimbabwe’s two remaining wickets inside five overs on the second morning, conceding only 12 runs in that time. With the overnight pair having hit 66 together on the first evening, Zimbabwe might have hoped they could push the score onwards, towards 400. A disciplined Sri Lanka prevented the free flow of runs that had been seen in Friday’s third session, however, and Zimbabwe were all out for 356, after 94.4 overs of batting in total. Craig Ervine was the last man to be dismissed, finishing up with 160.
The dismissals were brought about by Zimbabwe’s ambition, but were also the result of two sharp catches. Donald Tiripano ventured the reverse sweep that had proved productive for him yesterday, but was beaten by Rangana Herath’s flight, and wound up only sending the ball to Dimuth Karunaratne at slip. That wicket was Herath’s fifth of the innings, taking his personal tally of five-wicket hauls to 30.
With his overnight partner gone in the fourth over of the day, Ervine attempted to farm the strike, even as Sri Lanka spread the field and gave him the option of an easy single. He perished trying to ramp a Lahiru Kumara short ball over the fine boundary. Ervine didn’t connect well enough with the delivery, and third man fielder Dilruwan Perera made good ground to his right to claim a tough catch.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo