Lunch Sri Lanka 346 and 270 for 5 (Mendis 66, Dickwella 56*, Cremer 4-98) need another 118 runs to beat Zimbabwe 356 and 377
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Niroshan Dickwella swept his way to a third Test fifty © AFP
Graeme Cremer dismissed both Sri Lanka’s overnight batsmen inside the first hour of play on day five, but a poor decision from the third umpire, and a 67-run stand between Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne ensured Sri Lanka remained in the hunt. At lunch, the hosts were 118 runs adrift of the target, with the last recognised batsmen at the crease.
The pair’s pace of progress – they scored at just under four an over through their 17 overs together, broke up the bowlers’ rhythm slightly, and prompted Zimbabwe to bring a seamer into the attack for the first time in the innings. Dickwella was the primary aggressor, often using his feet to the spinners, and getting away with several mis-hits. He reached his third Test half-century late in the session, and finished on 56 not out off 81 balls.
Full report to follow
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo