5th Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 7 Apr 2003 Wisden CricInfo Live Report

5th Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Sharjah, 7 Apr 2003
Wisden Staff

Sri Lanka innings: 25 overs, 50 Overs,
Pre-game: Pre-game,
Zimbabwe innings: 25 overs,

ZIMBABWE RUN CHASE CHECKED BY SPINNERS
The Sri Lankan slow bowlers made the difference, slowing the run-rate and breaking two important partnerships as Zimbabwe fought resolutely on towards their target of 194. At the halfway stage, Zimbabwe held the edge despite playing around with their batting order - Tatendu Taibu joined Grant Flower at the fall of the third wicket.

After a dozy first half, the match erupted with both Craig Wishart and Doug Marillier thrashing the Sri Lankan opening bowlers. They rattled up 26 runs in the first three overs, with ten coming in the first over from a wayward Charitha Buddika, before Wishart (14) shouldered arms to an incutter from Prabath Nissanka. He watched in dismay as it crashed into his stumps.

Prabath Nissanka, tall and strong, grunted and glared after putting in extra effort to generate 140kph-plus balls. The aggression eventually paid off when he dismissed Wishart - immediately after being thumped for two fours - for 14. Wishart (14) shouldered arms to an incutter, and watched in dismay as it crashed into his stumps. Nissanka rudely gestured in farewell, but although it was an important breakthrough Zimbabwe had just the start they wanted.

Sanath Jayasuriya introduced Kumar Dharmasena into the attack, ahead of Muttiah Muralitharan, and this slowed the Zimbabwean charge towards the modest target. Dharmasena, bowling faster and flatter through the air, conceded just seven runs in his first five overs.

When Muralitharan did come on, he struck in his first over to get rid of Marillier (32) with a bat-pad catch that Marillier suggested had only involved the pad. Zimbabwe suffered another setback on the point of halfway when Gavin Rennie (26) was caught behind, a second international wicket for the 20-year-old legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi. But with less than 100 to get in 25 overs, Zimbabwe still held the upper hand in the battle for a place in the final.

ZIMBABWE WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF SHARJAH FINAL
Zimbabwe put themselves within touching distance of the Sharjah Cup final, after restricting Sri Lanka to 193 on a lifeless track. Steady medium-pace bowling, sharp fielding and some thoughtless batting combined to do the damage.

Zimbabwe kept Sri Lanka in a strangehold throughout the innings after being asked to bowl first. They grabbed wickets at regular intervals, with Sri Lanka's highest partnership being a second-wicket stand of 51.

Andy Blignaut bowled well to return 3 for 33, with Tatendu Taibu leading the spirited Zimbabwean fielding with three catches behind the stumps. With five Sri Lankan batsmen crossing the twenties but none going past 30, the Sri Lankan middle-order had displayed its brittle temperament yet again.

Sri Lanka's problems began with the second ball of the match. Heath Steak angled a delivery across Jayasuriya, induced an inside edge and saw the bails fly. Jayasuriya walked away with a duck, sad company for his 300th match.

Marvan Atapattu looked in deceptively good nick as he repaired the damage with Avishka Gunawardene. He thumped Streak for three early fours, the second of which he punched through the covers with minimal effort and pleasing balance. Atapattu's counter-attack eased the pressure for Sri Lanka who humming nicely with the fifty posted in the 11th over, when Dion Ebrahim caught Gunawardene (24) off Andy Blignaut. He dived full-length at cover to pluck a full-blooded drive a foot off the ground, landing with the ball, white floppy cap and dark sunglasses all in place.

Kumar Sangakkara, with two successive hundreds and yet to get out in the tournament, marched in with the score at 51 for 2. He was promptly handed another rescue mission when Atapattu (29) chased Sean Ervine's first ball of the match and nicked to wicketkeeper Taibu. Sri Lanka were struggling at 58 for 3.

But Sangakkara (25) flopped when it really mattered. At 106 for 3, just when Sri Lanka looked set on the road to recovery, he pulled a short ball from Raymond Price to a running Grant Flower on the midwicket boundary.

Zimbabwe tightened the noose and Streak returned to the attack paid with immediate effect. He removed Kumar Dharmasena (19), who popped a easy catch to Gavin Rennie, ending a promising 29-run seventh-wicket partnership with Kaushal Lokuarachchi (28). The Sri Lankan innings fell apart with Dharmasena's dismissal, with four wickets collapsing for ten runs. Dilhara Fernando and Prabath Nissanka then put on 25 for the last wicket, helping Sri Lanka limp to the fiftieth over. It was a precious partnership that ended with Streak trapping Nissanka lbw. Now it's up to his batsmen to deliver in what promises to be a good night of cricket for the sparse crowd.

SRI LANKA STRUGGLE TO 88/3
At the half-way stage of the innings, Zimbabwe were in control after some steady medium-pace bowling, a spectacular catch and poor shot selection left Sri Lanka struggling after opting to bat on a typical Sharjah belter.

Sri Lanka's problems began with the second ball of the match. Heath Steak angled a delivery across Sanath Jayasuriya, induced an inside edge and saw the bails fly. Jayasuriya punched his gloved fist in the air and walked away with a duck, sad company for his 300th match.

Marvan Atapattu looked in good knick as he repaired the damage with Avishka Gunawardene. He thumped Streak for three early fours, the second of which raced through the covers with minimal effort and pleasing balance. Atapattu's counter-attack forced Streak to haul himself off after a four-over spell, and introduce an unimpressive Douglas Hondo.

The move eased the pressure and Sri Lanka were humming nicely with the fifty posted in the 11th over, when Dion Ebrahim caught Gunawardene (24) off Andy Blignaut with an effort any goalkeeper would have cherished. He dived full-length at cover to pluck a full-blooded drive a foot off the ground, landing with the ball, white floppy cap and dark sunglasses in place.

SRI LANKA WIN THE TOSS IN FINAL DECIDER
Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and decided to bat in the fifth match of the Sharjah Cup. This is a crucial game: the winners will qualify for Thursday's final against Pakistan.

The Sri Lankans fielded the same side which thrashed Kenya comprehensively on Sunday. Kumar Sangakkara is the man in form, with centuries in each of his last two outings. Zimbabwe were also unchanged, and stuck with the XI that beat Kenya on Saturday.

The sun was blazing down as ever at Sharjah. The pitch was dry and dusty, and looks likely to get lower and slower as the day progresses.

It was a notable day for Jayasuriya. This is his 300th one-day international, a landmark reached by only five other players - Wasim Akram (356), Mohammad Azharuddin (334), Steve Waugh (325), Sachin Tendulkar (314) and Jayasuriya's old sparring partner Aravinda de Silva (308). Inzamam-ul-Haq (290) is the next likely member of the 300 club.

Sri Lanka: 1 Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), 2 Avishka Gunawardene, 3 Marvan Atapattu, 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Hashan Tillekeratne, 6 Kaushal Lokuarachchi, 7 Kumar Dharmasena, 8 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 9 Charitha Buddhika, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Prabath Nissanka.

Zimbabwe: 1 Craig Wishart, 2 Doug Marillier, 3 Gavin Rennie, 4 Grant Flower, 5 Sean Ervine, 6 Andy Blignaut, 7 Heath Streak (capt), 8 Dion Ebrahim, 9 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 10 Raymond Price, 11 Douglas Hondo.