Raza and Moor stretch Zimbabwe's lead

Tea Zimbabwe 356 and 126 for 5 (Raza 45*, Moor 30*, Herath 4-47) lead Sri Lanka 346 (Tharanga 71, Chandimal 55, Gunaratne 45, Cremer 5-125) by 136 runs
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In four overs before lunch on the third morning, Rangana Herath changed the momentum of the Test © AFP

A busy, unbroken 67-run stand between Sikandar Raza and Peter Moor brought Zimbabwe charging back into the game, after Rangana Herath had earlier wiped out the top order, and Sri Lanka threatened to skittle the visitors out. As it stands at tea on day three, Zimbabwe are effectively 136 ahead, with two set batsmen in, and five wickets in hand. Their head coach Heath Streak had said on day two, that ideally they were looking for a lead of 250, heading into the final innings of the match.

Raza and Moor were united when Herath bowled Sean Williams with a big-turning orthodox delivery, and with the score on 59 for 5, the pair began cautiously. Early in their stand, only runs into the outfield were ventured. Some of the bite Herath had achieved with the new ball had disappeared, and survival appeared to have become – if only marginally – easier.

There was also a lack of menace from Herath’s team-mates. Dilruwan Perera was miserly, but rarely beat the bat, while Lahiru Kumara was wayward. Missing Asela Gunaratne thanks to his busted hamstring, Dinesh Chandimal was forced to turn to Kusal Mendis for a few overs. Mendis settled after an eight-run first over, but Raza and Moor appeared largely untroubled by him.

Both batsmen employed the sweep to good effect, but the only real chance in the session came when Raza attempted to reverse sweep Herath on 31, but ended up only getting a thick top edge to the ball. Slip fielder Dimuth Karunaratne – who had already taken two excellent catches in the innings – might have been in a position to intercept that top edge, had he not begun moving squarer, in anticipation of where he felt the ball may travel. As it happened, the ball bisected the keeper and slip before skimming away to the third man fence. Raza hit two more fours in that over to make it Herath’s most expensive. That was a reflection not just of the confidence Raza presently has in his own game, but of the aggressive attitude they have displayed right through the tour. Raza ended the session five runs short of a fifth Test fifty, while Moor remained on 30.

Earlier, in the first session, Herath had knocked out Zimbabwe’s top order in his first four overs, before Perera also struck. By lunch, Sri Lanka had had them by the collar, at 23 for 5. Taking the new ball, Herath needed an over to settle, but the first delivery of his second over was of a higher quality than Regis Chakabva had the ability to handle. Breaking more sharply than any of his deliveries in the first over, the ball missed Chakabva’s defensive shot, and hit the top of the off stump. That over was a wicket-maiden, which Herath’s next would be as well. This time, having beaten Tarisai Musakanda’s inside edge with a slider, Herath tossed the ball up slightly wider, tempted Musakanda into an expansive drive, and then had him caught sharply by Dimuth Karunaratne at slip.

Herath’s next dismissal – in his following over – was perhaps the most controversial wicket of the session. Attempting a big sweep, Hamilton Masakadza was struck in front of the stumps. There was no doubt the ball would go on to hit the stumps, but perhaps feeling it brushed his glove on the way, Masakadza reviewed the out decision, and there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.

All this followed a milestone for Zimbabwe’s own lead spinner – Graeme Cremer – who became the first captain from his nation to take a five-wicket haul. He had taken two of the last three Sri Lanka wickets in the morning, and had helped eke out a 10-run first innings lead. With day three’s afternoon session having brought Zimbabwe 103 runs for the loss of one wicket, his batsmen may be giving Cremer something to bowl at in the final innings as well.

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Source: ESPN Crickinfo