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WORCESTER, May 22 - Defending champs Sri Lanka finally won, beating Zimbabwe by four wickets with four overs to spare to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Cup Super Sixes afloat at New Road here today.

Having restricted Zimbabwe to a moderate total of 197 for 9 off 50 overs, Sri Lanka relied heavily on 'Man of the Match' Marvan Atapattu's knock of 54 off 90 balls (4 fours) to see them through to their first points in the competition.

Sri Lanka lost both their opening games against England and South Africa, and came here under pressure to win for a defeat would have meant the end of the road for them in the tournament.

The win though not convincing as one would have liked it to be, was nevertheless a morale booster to the team who can now look forward to their remaining two games against India (on May 26) and Kenya (on May 30).

As long as Atapattu was at the wicket, Sri Lanka looked to be cruising towards their winning total of 198. They were 150 for 4 at the start of the 37th over which saw the dismissal of Atapattu for 54. He was out to a brilliant catch by Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell at slip and Sri Lanka lost their way when Mahela Jayawardene followed seven runs later trapped lbw for 31scored off 36 balls with four fours. Heath Streak took both wickets and threatened to run through the shaky Sri Lankan batting which was lacking in confidence.

However Romesh Kaluwitharana and Chaminda Vaas played sensibly to steer the side through sharing an unbroken 41 runs stand off seven overs for the seventh wicket. Kaluwitharana finished on 18 and Vaas 17, each hitting two fours apiece.

Sanath Jayasuriya failed again making only six before slashing a catch to third man and vice-captain Aravinda de Silva, the hero of the 1996 World Cup triumph continued his nightmare run in the tournament when he was dismissed for six.

Changing the name of his bat manufacturer from Kookaburra to Duncan Fearnley has not brought De Silva any luck whatsoever. In three innings he has scored seven runs (0, 1, 6) and on current form doesn't look as if he will make many.

Even with the help of Lady Luck he has not been able play an innings worthy of his status of a world class batsman. He was caught off an Olonga no-ball at third man when on two and added only five further runs before pulling Guy Whittall straight to his half brother (Andy) who was substituting for Murray Goodwin at square leg.

Roshan Mahanama promoted to open once again, played well for his 31 off 64 balls before dragging a ball from Guy Whittall on to his stumps. Whittall with his probing medium-pacers also accounted for the wickets of De Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga who hit back a simple return catch at three. He was Zimbabwe's best bowler ending with figures of 3 for 35.

Another fine effort on the field by the Sri lankan bowlers and fielders left them chasing 198 of 50 overs.

Having invited Zimbabwe to bat first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka reduced them to 94 for 6 in 26 overs, before Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle staged a recovery by adding 68 runs for the seventh wicket off 14 overs. The partnership was ended by a run out when it looked to becoming threatening. Carlisle attempting to sweep Sanath Jayasuriya got a bottom edge and as the ball travelled to third man, he took off for a single. But Chaminda Vaas moved smartly to fire a quick return to Jayasuriya to beat Carlisle by yards.

Carlisle made 27 off 36 balls with a six and a four. Zimbabwe suffered another blow immediately, when Andy Flower attempting a reverse sweep off Jayasuriya's next delivery, gloved a catch to Romesh Kaluwitharana who dived after running a few metres to hold it. Flower made 41 off 60 balls with three fours.

The early part of the Zimbabwe innings was held together by opener Grant Flower who weathered the new ball assault of Sri Lanka's three-pronged seam attack of Chaminda Vaas, Erik Upashantha and Pramodya Wickremasinghe to score 42 off 69 balls with six fours.

Zimbabwe were given a late flourish in the final over by the last pair Eddo Brandes and Henty Olonga who took 17 runs off Vaas. In the previous match against South Africa, Vaas was hit for 22 off his final over by Lance Klusener. Brandes was fortunate to be given a reprieve at two when Kaluwitharana broke the stumps with his shoulder instead of the glove following a return from Jayasuriya at cover point.

Upashantha returning to the side ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana, made the early breakthrough when left-hander Neil Johnson attempting to pull him from off stump only succeeded in skying the ball to mid-wicket.

Wickremasinghe taking over from Vaas then had pinch hitter Paul Strang playing down the wrong line for five and after Murray Goodwin had been run out by Jayasuriya at fine leg for 21, Wickremasinghe had Grant Flower edging a catch to Kaluwitharana.

Alistair Campbell became Wickremasinghe's third victim when he was given out caught behind by David Shepherd for six - a decision which did not please the Zimbabwe skipper for he stood starring at the umpire for some time before making his way to the pavilion.

Off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan had Guy Whittall taken by Ranatunga at slip after juggling with the ball and at 94 for 6, Zimbabwe's total looked dismal reading, until Andy Flower and Carlisle came together in partnership.

Wickremasinghe held back from the new ball, bowled superbly to finish with 3 for 30 off his 10 overs, while Muralitharan strangled the middle order with figures of two for 29 in 10.

WORCESTER, England, May 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in their World Cup group A match on Saturday. Scores Zimbabwe 197 for nine (50 overs), Sri Lanka 198 for six (46 overs). Champions Sri Lanka finally won their first match of the 1999 World h The trophy holders produced effective out-cricket to restrict Zimbabwe to 197 for nine off their 50 overs but were largely unconvincing with the bat on the way to 198 for six with exactly four overs to spare.

``It was very important to have a win under our belts as we have been struggling with our batting,'' said Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga. Sri Lanka had lost to England and South Africa in their previous two games.

Medium pacer Guy Whittall jolted Sri Lanka with a spell of three for 29, reducing the Asian side to 108 for four, but Marvan Atapattu brought stability with 54 off 90 balls.

Two wickets in consecutive overs from paceman Heath Streak further unnerved the Asian side before Romesh Kaluwitharana and Chaminda Vaas, with 17 not out each, sealed victory.

Sri Lanka had created a winning position on the strength of telling spells by paceman Pramodya Wickremasinghe, with three for 30 off his 10 overs, and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who took two for 29 in 10.

Zimbabwe's score owed much to brothers Grant and Andy Flower who hit 42 and 41 respectively.

``We didn't get enough runs, we were about 30 to 40 runs short,'' said Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell. ``The batting was the thing that let us down.''

Defending champions Sri Lanka were left chasing 198 of 50 overs to beat Zimbabwe and keep themselves in contention for a place in the World Cup Super Six after another fine effort on the field in a crucial Group 'A' match played at New Road here today.

Having invited Zimbabwe to bat first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka reduced them to 94 for 6 in 26 overs, before Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle staged a recovery by adding 68 runs for the seventh wicket off 14 overs. The partnership was ended by a run out when it looked to becoming threatening. Carlisle attempting to sweep Sanath Jayasuriya got a bottom edge and as the ball travelled to third man, he took off for a single. But Chaminda Vaas moved smartly to fire a quick return to Jayasuriya to beat Carlisle by yards.

Carlisle made 27 off 36 balls with a six and a four. Zimbabwe suffered another blow immediately, when Andy Flower attempting a reverse sweep off Jayasuriya's next delivery, gloved a catch to Romesh Kaluwitharana who dived after running a few metres to hold it. Flower made 41 off 60 balls with three fours.

The early part of the Zimbabwe innings was held together by opener Grant Flower who weathered the new ball assault of Sri Lanka's three-pronged seam attack of Chaminda Vaas, Erik Upashantha and Pramodya Wickremasinghe to score 42 off 69 balls with six fours.

Zimbabwe were given a late flourish in the final over by the last pair Eddo Brandes and Henty Olonga who took 17 runs off Vaas. In the previous match against South Africa, Vaas was hit for 22 off his final over by Lance Klusener. Brandes was fortunate to be given a reprieve at two when Kaluwitharana broke the stumps with his shoulder instead of the glove following a return from Jayasuriya at cover point.

Upashantha returning to the side ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana, made the early breakthrough when left-hander Neil Johnson attempting to pull him from off stump only succeeded in skying the ball to mid-wicket.

Wickremasinghe taking over from Vaas then had pinch hitter Paul Strang playing down the wrong line for five and after Murray Goodwin had been run out by Jayasuriya at fine leg for 21, Wickremasinghe had Grant Flower edging a catch to Kaluwitharana.

Alistair Campbell became Wickremasinghe's third victim when he was given out caught behind by David Shepherd for six - a decision which did not please the Zimbabwe skipper for he stood starring at the umpire for some time before making his way to the pavilion.

Off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan had Guy Whittall taken by Ranatunga at slip after juggling with the ball and at 94 for 6, Zimbabwe's total looked dismal reading, until Andy Flower and Carlisle came together in partnership.

Wickremasinghe held back from the new ball, bowled superbly to finish with 3 for 30 off his 10 overs, while Muralitharan strangled the middle order with figures of two for 29 in 10.

The weather was perfect and Sri Lanka couldn't have asked for a better day to make their turnaround in the tournament after suffering defeats in the first two matches of the competition.

Defending champions Sri Lanka were left chasing 198 of 50 overs to beat Zimbabwe and keep themselves in contention for a place in the World Cup Super Six after another fine effort on the field in a crucial Group 'A' match played at New Road here today.

Having invited Zimbabwe to bat first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka reduced them to 94 for 6 in 26 overs, before Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle staged a recovery by adding 68 runs for the seventh wicket off 14 overs. The partnership was ended by a run out when it looked to becoming threatening. Carlisle attempting to sweep Sanath Jayasuriya got a bottom edge and as the ball travelled to third man, he took off for a single. But Chaminda Vaas moved smartly to fire a quick return to Jayasuriya to beat Carlisle by yards.

Carlisle made 27 off 36 balls with a six and a four. Zimbabwe suffered another blow immediately, when Andy Flower attempting a reverse sweep off Jayasuriya's next delivery, gloved a catch to Romesh Kaluwitharana who dived after running a few metres to hold it. Flower made 41 off 60 balls with three fours.

The early part of the Zimbabwe innings was held together by opener Grant Flower who weathered the new ball assault of Sri Lanka's three-pronged seam attack of Chaminda Vaas, Erik Upashantha and Pramodya Wickremasinghe to score 42 off 69 balls with six fours.

Zimbabwe were given a late flourish in the final over by the last pair Eddo Brandes and Henty Olonga who took 17 runs off Vaas. In the previous match against South Africa, Vaas was hit for 22 off his final over by Lance Klusener. Brandes was fortunate to be given a reprieve at two when Kaluwitharana broke the stumps with his shoulder instead of the glove following a return from Jayasuriya at cover point.

Upashantha returning to the side ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana, made the early breakthrough when left-hander Neil Johnson attempting to pull him from off stump only succeeded in skying the ball to mid-wicket.

Wickremasinghe taking over from Vaas then had pinch hitter Paul Strang playing down the wrong line for five and after Murray Goodwin had been run out by Jayasuriya at fine leg for 21, Wickremasinghe had Grant Flower edging a catch to Kaluwitharana.

Alistair Campbell became Wickremasinghe's third victim when he was given out caught behind by David Shepherd for six - a decision which did not please the Zimbabwe skipper for he stood starring at the umpire for some time before making his way to the pavilion.

Off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan had Guy Whittall taken by Ranatunga at slip after juggling with the ball and at 94 for 6, Zimbabwe's total looked dismal reading, until Andy Flower and Carlisle came together in partnership.

Wickremasinghe held back from the new ball, bowled superbly to finish with 3 for 30 off his 10 overs, while Muralitharan strangled the middle order with figures of two for 29 in 10.

The weather was perfect and Sri Lanka couldn't have asked for a better day to make their turnaround in the tournament after suffering defeats in the first two matches of the competition.