Zimbabwe collapse gives Lanka easy ODI win
A collapse by Zimbabwe of stock market proportions gifted Sri Lanka a
leisurely victory here Thursday in the first of a series of five one-day
internationals.
And the main instigator was predictably Muttiah Muralitharan who
snatched 4-14 in four overs.
It brought “Murali” up to 468 wickets in this form of the game. And
it was fortunate for the Zimbabweans that he didn’t bowl any more.
The hapless home side slumped from 124-3 to 127 all out in 31 overs,
losing seven wickets for just three runs scraped together. Only Tatenda
Taibu came through the mayhem with 36 not out.
The Sri Lankans coasted to 130-4 in reply, giving them a comfortable
win by six wickets and a 1-0 series lead. The Zimbabweans, expecting a
5-0 whitewash weather allowing, failed in their realistic objective of
putting up resistance. At least there were fewer than 500 spectators at
the Harare Sports Club to see the spectacular extent of their failures.
Upul Tharanga failed to score, thus setting a false note to the
proceedings. Mahela Udawatte made 38 in 45 balls and Kumar Sangakkara 46
not out in 95.
Mahela Jayawardene scored only 10, the result of trying to hit Ray
Price out of the ground and himself out of the soporofic atmosphere.
Part of the problem was a rather grassy wicket and a damp atmosphere
at the time of a fairly early start, allowing swing and lateral
movement. Ajantha Mendis made full use of the circumstance with 3-26.
The second ODI will be at the same ground on Saturday and there’s
little doubt some changes will be made by the home selectors..
Teams:
Zimbabwe - Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Justin Chibhabha,
Tatenda Taibu, Stuart Matsikenyere, Elton Chigumbura, Timson Maruma,
Prosper UtseyaRay Price, Tawanda Mupariwa, Chris Mpofu. 12th man Keith
Dabegwa.
Sri Lanka - Mahela Jayewardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Udawatte,
Chamara Kapudegera, Jehan Mubarak, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof,
Thilan Mirando, Nuwam Kalasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan.
HARARE, Thursday, AFP
ZIMBABWE INNINGS
H Masakadza run out (Tharanga) 15
V Sibanda c Kapugedera b Kulasekara 9
CJ Chibhabha c Kulasekara b Maharoof 25
T Taibu not out 36
S Matsikenyeri b Muralitharan 21
E Chigumbura lbw b Muralitharan 0
T Maruma c Kapugedera b Muralitharan 0
P Utseya lbw b Mendis 0
RW Price st Sangakkara b Mendis 0
T Mupariwa c Tharanga b Muralitharan 0
CB Mpofu b Mendis 0
EXTRAS (b 4, lb 4, w 13) 21
TOTAL (all out; 31 overs) 127
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28 , 2-40, 3-83, 4-124, 5-124 , 6-124 , 7-125, 8-125, 9-126, 10-127
BOWLING: MF Maharoof 8-0-26-1, KMDN Kulasekara 7-1-25-1,
T Thushara 6-0-28-0, BAW Mendis 6-0-26-3, M Muralitharan 4-1-14-4.
SRI LANKA INNINGS
WU Tharanga run out (Mpofu) 0
ML Udawatte c Matsikenyeri b Chigumbura 38
KC Sangakkara not out 46
DPMD Jayawardene b Price 15
CK Kapugedera c Chibhabha b Price 16
J Mubarak not out 0
EXTRAS: (lb 3, w 12) 15
TOTAL (4 wickets; 33.2 overs) 130
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 , 2-57, 3-95 , 4-122.
BOWLING: CB Mpofu 8-1-28-0, T Mupariwa 7-1-28-0, E Chigumbura 5-0-19-1, RW Price 7-1-24-2, P Utseya 6.2-1-28-0. |