CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Asanka, Aravinda Steer Lanka To Comfortable 6-wkt Win

Vice-captain Aravinda De Silva and left hander Asanka Gurusinha shared a record-breaking 172-run third wicket partnership to steer SRI LANKA to a comfortable six wickets win over Zimbabwe in a Wills World Cup Group 'A' match played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

The pair with over 300 one-day internationals between them made short work of Zimbabwe's total of 228 for 6 in 50 overs by enabling SRI LANKA to win with 13 overs to spare.

Openers

They came together after Zimbabwe had gained the upper hand by sending back both openers Sanath Jayasuriya (6) and Romesh Kaluwitharana without scoring-both victims of opening bowler Heath Streak. Kaluwitharana's dismissal was unfortunate. He was to have retired to the pavilion after facing one ball, but he put it in the hands of mid-on fieldsman Stephen Peall.

Having come to open the innings soon after keeping wickets on a hot and humid day, Kaluwitharana was struck down by cramps even before he faced a ball.

For all his success in the initial stages,Streak was also guilty of bowling nine wides in his first spell of four overs which cost him 26 runs.

Assault

In the face of the assault mounted by Gurusinha and De Silva, the Zimbabwean bowling became rather ragged and despite some sharp fielding they could not put a stop to the onslaught.

Gurusinha raced to his 50 off 72 balls and overall smashed sixes in his innings of 87 scored off 100 balls. He fell short by just one six to equal the World Cup record of seven held by former West Indian batsman Viv Richards during his innings of 181 against Sri Lanka at Karachi in 1987.

In addition to his sixes, Gurusinha also hit five fours as he and DE SILVA broke the Sri Lanka third wicket partnership in one-day internationals 150 between De Silva and Hashan Tillekeratne against Pakistan at Lucknow in 1989.

The highest

Their 172-run stand was also the second century partnership for Sri Lanka in the World Cup and also the highest. The only other century partnership for SRI LANKA was 128 between Roshan Mahanama and Athula Smarasekera against Zimbabwe at New Plymouth in 1992.

De Silva needing a big score behind him to go with his reputation as a world class batsman, came good finally by making the highest individual score for his country in a World Cup match _ 91 off 86 balls which won him the 'Man of the Match' award.

Two sixes

The hardhitting right-hander slammed two sixes and 10 fours to take him past Mahanama's innings of 89 against Pakistan at Hyderabad in 1987. At one time De Silva was headed for the fastest fifty in the tournament, but slowed down when approaching that figure and eventually completed it off 42 balls.

Both batsmen were dismissed when well set for their centuries. Gurusinha hit the ball to mid-on's hands and was run out, and DE SILVA followed two overs later shuffling across to streak and being adjudged lbw.

By then SRI LANKA were poised for victory and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Tillekeratne put the finishing touches without further ado.

Stylish

A maiden World Cup fifty from stylish left hander Alastair Campbell enabled Zimbabwe to make 228 for 6 after chosing to bat first. But the total always looked insufficient on a good batting track.

Zimbabwe's innings heavily revolved around Campbell who see innings occupied 102 balls and comprised seven fours.

He and Andy Waller (19) put on the highest partnership of the innings with 68 off 91 balls.

Pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers was Chaminda Vaas who had the excellent figures of 2 for 30 off 10 overs.

Man of the Match: PA De Silva.