Pallekele : Sri Lankan openers dominated over the Zimbabwe bowlers. A patnership of 282 runs for the first wicket by Tharanga and Dilshan led the Sri Lankan team to set up a huge target of 328 for the Zimbabwe team. Murali broke a stubborn opening stand for Sri Lanka that was causing some concern. Brendan Taylor was in terrific touch and looked good for more but fell at the wrong time and thereafter it was all Sri Lanka. Everything Dilshan touched turned to gold today and he was in excellent form with the ball as well picking up four wickets.
Both the openers Tharanga and Dilshan scored Centuries. Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan attacked from the outset, that erased whatever advantage Elton Chigumbura hoped to gain by bowling first in Pallekele. It was pretty surprising to see that Chigumbura did not use Ray Price with the brand new ball and gave the second over to Tinashe Panyangara.
Tharanga scored (133 runs out of 141 balls) which consisted of seventeen boundaries in it, While Dilshan scored (144 runs out of 131 balls) which consisted of sixteen boundaries ans one sixer in it. The score was 289 for the loss of two wickets when both the openers were out in the 46th over. The rest of the Sri Lankan bastman were out and followed one after the other in the last four overs of the Sri Lankan innings.
Mpofu was the top wicket taker from the Zimbabwe team by taking four wickets, While Utseya and Price took an wicket each.
Zimbabwe openers gave an good reply to their opponents by opening their innings with the heavy flow of runs. Taylor punished everyone who bowled to him. The score was 76 after 13 overs , But soon after Chakabva was dismissed by Muralitharan all the other batsman started following their way to the pavilion, as the Sri Lankan bowlers got the grip on the Zimbabwe batsman.
Taylor(80 out of 72 balls) was the top scorer from the Zimbabwe team, Who smashed nine boundaries and one sixer. Chakabva scored (35 runs out of 61 balls) which consisted of three boundaries in it.
Dilshan proved to be an all rounder by taking four wickets out of three overs he bowled with an amazing economy rate of 1.33 , while Muralitharan took three wickets and Mathews took two wickets.
"This is the best match that I have played and I am very happy. This is a very good wicket to bat on and I enjoyed my batting. I was unfortunate to miss out on the hat-trick but before that Mahela took an absolute blinder to set it up. The batting and bowling is working well and I was disappointed that I could not stand up and contribute with the performance." Dilshan said.
"Taylor and Chakabva played very well, but we did not sustain the momentum. It is very tough when we are chasing a big score. We have to learn from what went wrong today and carry forward to the next games. We have to win our games against Pakistan and Kenya, we have no choice. The ground is great and I enjoyed playing." Chigumbura said.
"I am happy with this win, but we did not bowl well at the start and Brendan Taylor played really well. I love playing in Kandy. I have almost taken 100 wkts in Tests at the Asgiriya stadium. It is a sad moment that it is my last game here. It is one of the best grounds in Sri Lanka and the crowds are the best here."Muralitharan said.
Toss : Zimbabwe, who chose to field
Points : Sri Lanka 2, Zimbabwe 0
Scores : Sri Lanka 327/6 (50 ov) Zimbabwe 188 (39.0 ov)
Player of the match : TM Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
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Both the openers Tharanga and Dilshan scored Centuries. Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan attacked from the outset, that erased whatever advantage Elton Chigumbura hoped to gain by bowling first in Pallekele. It was pretty surprising to see that Chigumbura did not use Ray Price with the brand new ball and gave the second over to Tinashe Panyangara.
Tharanga scored (133 runs out of 141 balls) which consisted of seventeen boundaries in it, While Dilshan scored (144 runs out of 131 balls) which consisted of sixteen boundaries ans one sixer in it. The score was 289 for the loss of two wickets when both the openers were out in the 46th over. The rest of the Sri Lankan bastman were out and followed one after the other in the last four overs of the Sri Lankan innings.
Mpofu was the top wicket taker from the Zimbabwe team by taking four wickets, While Utseya and Price took an wicket each.
Zimbabwe openers gave an good reply to their opponents by opening their innings with the heavy flow of runs. Taylor punished everyone who bowled to him. The score was 76 after 13 overs , But soon after Chakabva was dismissed by Muralitharan all the other batsman started following their way to the pavilion, as the Sri Lankan bowlers got the grip on the Zimbabwe batsman.
Taylor(80 out of 72 balls) was the top scorer from the Zimbabwe team, Who smashed nine boundaries and one sixer. Chakabva scored (35 runs out of 61 balls) which consisted of three boundaries in it.
Dilshan proved to be an all rounder by taking four wickets out of three overs he bowled with an amazing economy rate of 1.33 , while Muralitharan took three wickets and Mathews took two wickets.
"This is the best match that I have played and I am very happy. This is a very good wicket to bat on and I enjoyed my batting. I was unfortunate to miss out on the hat-trick but before that Mahela took an absolute blinder to set it up. The batting and bowling is working well and I was disappointed that I could not stand up and contribute with the performance." Dilshan said.
"Taylor and Chakabva played very well, but we did not sustain the momentum. It is very tough when we are chasing a big score. We have to learn from what went wrong today and carry forward to the next games. We have to win our games against Pakistan and Kenya, we have no choice. The ground is great and I enjoyed playing." Chigumbura said.
"I am happy with this win, but we did not bowl well at the start and Brendan Taylor played really well. I love playing in Kandy. I have almost taken 100 wkts in Tests at the Asgiriya stadium. It is a sad moment that it is my last game here. It is one of the best grounds in Sri Lanka and the crowds are the best here."Muralitharan said.
Toss : Zimbabwe, who chose to field
Points : Sri Lanka 2, Zimbabwe 0
Scores : Sri Lanka 327/6 (50 ov) Zimbabwe 188 (39.0 ov)
Player of the match : TM Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
Also see :
What do Kamran Akmal and Michael Jackson have in common?
Broad's World Cup ended by side strain
Big loss for England and Big Gain for Australia!
