1st Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 26 Oct 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 26 Oct 2001
Suhael Ahmed

Sri Lanka innings: End of Innings,
Pre-game: Pre-match,
Zimbabwe innings: End of match,

SRI LANKA WRAP-UP ZIMBABWE FOR 193 TO WIN COMFORTABLY

After the break Doug Marillier and Grant Flower came out and started off cautiously. The Sri Lankan debutante Charitha Buddika Fernando was the pick of the fast bowlers as he was not only fast but got the ball to seam and beat Marillier early on with a beauty that seamed in for his first international wicket.

Carlisle too was beaten with another that seamed away this time, edged to Kaluwitharana who took a low catch. Zimbabwe were in trouble but the Flower brothers fought back and the runs started to flow. The scoring rate matched the Sri Lankan innings.

After an excellent spell, Buddika made way for Dilhara Fernando and the change yielded Andy Flower’s wicket off a good ball that moved away for an edge to the keeper and Zimbabwe were in deep trouble at 65 for 4.

Grant Flower resisted for a while and hit a few lofted drives but was unfortunate to be run out to a throw from deep mid-wicket boundary after a good 43 and Sri Lanka were in firm control after 21 overs.

Craig Wishart could not really cope with Muralitharan’s ‘other’ ball a top spinner that left him to be caught in the slips and Zimbabwe were 90 for 5 after 23 overs.

Ebrahim and Streak played out a few overs but there was no stopping the Sri Lankans and Dilhara Fernando yorked Streak in the 29th over. Sean Ervine came in and soon made his presence felt by hitting a superb six over long on off spinner Dharmasena at the end of the 30th over.

Ervine and Ebrahim continued to bat carefully to reach 120 for 6 after 32 overs when Muralitharan was brought back only to make Ebrahim play a mistimed sweep off the wrong ball, caught by Kaluwitharana after scoring 10 runs. With 7 down and the Sri Lanka spinners on, Zimbabwe seemed all at sea. Jayasuriya beat the bat several times. A missed Ervine stumping chance by Kaluwitharana off Muralitharan caused a few frowns in the 35th over and some welcome respite when the drinks cart was called in and Zimbabwe were 129 for 7.

Ervine resisted well and seems to be an upcoming all-rounder. Jayasuriya brought back Dilhara Fernando after he had bowled 9 no-balls in his first spell while keeping himself on from the other end. Ervine and Brent continued the fight scoring some runs to reach 145 for 7 after 39 overs. Jayasuriya brought back Muralitharan for the 41st over but there was no breakthrough and he could only reap one wicket for 16 runs in his 10 overs.

The Zimbabwe innings continued to meander along and even the fielding seemed lacklustre as there was no real chance for a win after Zimbabwe were 161 for 7 after 44 overs. Vaas was called in for the 45th over and Ervine unleashed a superb ‘text-book’ off-drive for 4 along the ground. After the four, expectedly, a short ball squared him up but he attacked back with a drive back over Vaas’s head for 2.

Well Buddika Fernando got the breakthough, knocking back Brent’s off stump in the next over and Zimbabwe were 158 for 8 with Friend having to face. The next ball got him, bowled middle stump with a hat-trick chance for the debutant and the Zimbabwe captain to stave it off. He played and missed and the tension was over though he did not know much about what to do with it. The next few balls were edged around but Murphy got off the mark with a single off the last ball.

Ervine played like a hero and showed class and confidence by playing close to his body with a straight bat, taking the odd single. Murphy had to face the 48th over from the debutant and edged a four past a diving Kaluwitharana and another to over the slips to third man reaching 176 with 2 overs to go. Some sloppy end game fielding allowed an overthrow and a pull got Murphy to 15 and Ervine to 39 after 49 overs. The last over was bowled by Buddika Fernando, perhaps a little over anxious striving for a fifth wicket but was kept at bay. The big event was a second six by Ervine over mid-wicket for a special prize and a fine 47. On the last ball Ervine tried another and holed out to Dilhara Fernando at long off and Zimbabwe were all out for 193.

A professional job duly completed by Sri Lanka over Zimbabwe, winning by 63 runs and to take on Pakistan on Saturday, 27 October. And, who else but the debutante, Buddika Fernando was the man of the Match.

SRI LANKA WON THE TOSS TO REACH 256 FOR 6 IN TROPHY OPENER

Sri Lanka won the toss and invited Zimbabwe to bowl in the opening match at Sharjah in front of a large holiday crowd. The Sri Lanka team was Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Avishka Gunawardena, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Charitha Buddhika, Muthiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena.

The Zimbabwe team: Brian Murphy (capt), Douglas Marillier, Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Craig Wishart, Grant Flower, Heath Streak, Travis Friend, Gary Brent, Sean Ervine. 12th man: Mluleki Nkala. The umpires: George Sharp (England), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa) and match referee: Denis Lindsay (South Africa).

Sri Lanka started off rather shakily with Gunawardene run out after scoring 5 and star batsman Atapattu came and played as solidly as ever. The partnership between the Sri Lanka captain and Atapattu could not last long and Travis Friend held a fine catch off his own bowling to send Jayasuriya back after scoring 21 runs off 28 gballs.

Next to go was Jayawardene, another run out for a fine 33 off 45 balls. But in walked Arnold to help consolidate the innings. The pair of Atapattu and Arnold kept on adding runs smartly till Atapattu holed out to Wishart at long on after a fine 92 off 110 balls in the 45th over with the score 216 for 4. Sri Lanka were ready for the slog overs.

Kaluwitharana joined Arnold amidst the drums and cheering from the many Sri Lankan fans enjoying some international cricket. The last ball of the 46th over was a juicy full toss, slammed along the ground to long on by Arnold as he reached 67 off 86 balls. The partnership came to an early end when Kaluwitharana was lbw, deceived by a fine slower ball from Ervine in the 47th over.

Vaas came in to add some quick runs and was immediately dropped by Ervine off his own bowling after almost holding on while trying for a shy at the stumps. After 47 overs Sri Lanka were 230 for 5.

Helped by a bye that ran over the rope, a huge six and a not out decision by umpire Koertzen to a full toss that dipped into the stumps to hit Vaas on his thigh Sri Lanka continued to add quick runs 251 for 5 after 49 overs.

Brent bowled the last over and he managed to control the charge. Murphy held a slog to leg off a low full toss to send Vaas back with one ball to go and the score at 254 for 6. Muralitharan came in and scrambled a two off the last ball to help Sri Lanka to 256 after 50 overs. Arnold was still there at 76 off 94 balls.

Some excellent fired up fielding by Zimbabwe and a slow outfield prevented a larger total and Zimbabwe will be facing a target of 257 after the break.

IT'S SHARJAH TIME AGAIN

It's Sharjah time again and this 'King of ODIs venue' is set to offer cricket fans some exciting cricket in this period of turmoil and tension. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will vie for the Trophy, this time sponsored by the Khaleej Times.

The Pakistan team may be a bit rusty for, apart from a single Test against Bangladesh, the players' only form of competition has been domestic cricket after their return from England last summer. The other teams in the tournament have been involved in regular international cricket, which may well be represent a significant advantage to them.

Although Pakistan have won more trophies in Sharjah than anywhere else in the world, the Sri Lankans are favourites and looking for a hat-trick of wins.

Their coach, Dav Whatmore, is full of confidence, saying "We seem to have got the hang of winning tournaments there."

Newly appointed Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar is more guarded.

"We have high hopes for Sharjah but are mindful that on our last visit, Sri Lanka beat us in the final. Their team is very well organised these days, and their interim cricket Board is taking all the right decisions."

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, come to Sharjah after a series of successive losses back home and will be looking to rebuild under a new captain in Brian Murphy and a new coach, Geoff Marsh.

Marsh sees this tournament as a real opportunity to help strengthen the team's performances.

"The Sharjah tournament is a great challenge for the boys. We are going there for four games before the final. I will be looking to going away and working with the guys, and hopefully the guys are also looking forward to going away and working, training hard and improving their performance. Because in just over 12 months' time we've got the World Cup where Zimbabwe will be hosting their six qualifying games. I am sure that the boys want to put up a good performance in front of the home crowd."

As for the pitch at Sharjah it may be interesting to note that it was the brainchild of a Pakistani curator, Mohammad Bashir, and seems to be very batsman-friendly - much like the one at Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.

Today, Sri Lanka face Zimbabwe in front of a huge holiday crowd. Although Sri Lanka are obvious favourites, let's not forget that Zimbabwe will be going all out to cause a few surprises. All signs indicate a high-scoring game is in store with lots of action and fun for the fans.