Tour Match: Sri Lanka Board XI v Zimbabweans at Colombo, 21-23 Dec 2001 CricInfo Live Report

Tour Match: Sri Lanka Board XI v Zimbabweans at Colombo, 21-23 Dec 2001
Charlie Austin

Sri Lanka Board XI 2nd innings: Day three: Close,
Zimbabweans 2nd innings: Day three: Lunch, Day three: Tea,
Live Reports from previous days

CHAMARA SILVA GUIDES BOARD XI HOME WITH BRILLIANT HUNDRED

Chamara Silva, 22, celebrated his inclusion into the Sri Lankan Test squad with a brilliant hundred at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium that carried his side to a dramatic five-wicket win.

The right-handed Silva smashed 127 from 118 balls, hitting 15 fours and one six, to guide the Board XI home with four balls to spare.

The Board XI had started their run chase badly, losing a wicket in the first over, as the first innings centurion, Gayan Ramyakumara, who replaced the injured Ian Daniel as opener, was bowled by medium pacer Gary Brent for a second ball duck.

Skipper Pradeep Hewage and Silva then added 35 runs in 7 overs. Hewage looked in good touch, hitting five fours in his 29-ball 27 before he edged a catch behind to Andy Flower to give Brent his second wicket (40 for two).

Prassana Jaywardene lasted six balls before he too was caught at the wicket to leave the Board XI in considerable trouble on 45 for three.

But Jeewan Mendis stayed with Silva, who was now batted serenely, to add 35 runs for the fourth wicket.

Left-arm spinner Grant Flower was introduced from the Press Box End after leg-spinner Brian Murphy conceded 18 runs from his first two overs.

He started with a wicket maiden as Mendis was caught and bowled for seven (80 for four).

The game set for a draw but Silva and Malinga Bandara, who had a disappointing game with the ball, continued to push for victory in an 87 run stand.

With 20 overs remaining the Board XI needed 105 and then 62 in the last 10.

Olonga was recalled into the attack in place of Grant Flower to clean bowl Banadara, who had tried to flail him over mid-wicket, for a useful 32.

Ian Daniel eventually came into bat with a runner and 53 runs needed from 8.3 overs.

The pair guided their team home, raising the tempo in the last five overs, hitting 12 runs in the 10th over of the final hour (15 overs minimum), nine off the 11th, 11 off the 12th, four off the 13th, five off the 14th to leave them needing five off the final over to win.

Silva knocked them off with ease, clattering Brent for two boundaries.

ZIMBABWE DECLARE TO SET UP BOARD XI RUN CHASE

Zimbabwe declared shortly before the tea interval to set-up the possibility of an intriguing run chase at P.Saravanamuttu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The tourists recovered from the early loss of both openers to score 169 for five thanks to a timely half-century from left-hander Gavin Rennie, who probably booked himself a berth in the final Test eleven after his137-ball 68.

The Board XI were thus left needing to score 220 runs in 43 overs to win the match. A tough target, but by no means an impossible one on a benign pitch that remains batsmen friendly

Grant Flower was dismissed second ball after lunch, without adding to his pre-lunch score, he pushed forward defensively to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and was caught at first slip (81 for four).

However, his brother, Andy, then gave Rennie good support with an unbeaten 26, as the pair added 65 for the fifth wicket.

Rennie, who hit eight fours in his innings, was eventually out when brilliantly caught by a diving Jeewan Mendis at backward point (146 for five).

Stuart Carlisle then played a quick cameo, hitting one four and a six, as he scored 19 from 28 balls before the declaration.

ZIMBABWE LOSE OPENERS CHEAPLY IN SECOND INNINGS

Zimbabwe lost both opening batsmen cheaply after an overnight declaration by the Sri Lankan Board XI but then recovered during the second part of the third and final morning.

The Board XI declaration on 269 for four leaves open the possibility of a final innings run chase in the evening, but that depends on how much batting practice Zimbabwe want to have on their last outing before the first Test.

At lunch, Zimbabwe were 80 for three, having built a lead of 130, with Gavin Rennie playing well on 28 not out and Grant Flower on nine.

Hamilton Masakadza started his Sunday morning disastrously, as he shouldered arms first ball, to be trapped lbw by an inswinger from Ravi Pushpakumara.

Trevor Gripper was then caught behind for 10 as he flashed at a delivery from Prabath Nissanka, who has been called into the 14-man Test squad, to be caught behind (22 for two).

Zimbabwe the promoted Craig Wishart and Gavin Rennie, both of whom could be competing against each other for a place in the final Test eleven.

Wishart was dropped early on in slips by Ian Daniel but then went on to score 28, hitting three boundaries, before he was controversially adjudged lbw as he tried to sweep a delivery from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Daniel, fielding at short leg, was forced to leave the field five minutes before the luncheon interval after being painfully struck on the hip by the left-handed Rennie who was sweeping.