Zimbabwe ride on Mire ton, surprise Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe stunned Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka for the first time with a six-wicket win in the opener of a five-match one-day international series on Friday.
Zimbabwe made 322-4 with 14 deliveries to spare in reply to Sri Lanka’s formidable 316-5, in the biggest successful run chase in the country, in nearly 300 OneDay Internationals.
Zimbabwe started its chase nervously losing two wickets for 46 runs by the 11th over. But Solomon Mire and Sean Williams shared 161 runs for the third wicket.
Mire hit his maiden ODI century, 112 from 96 deliveries. He hit 14 boundaries before he was caught and bowled by Asela Gunaratne. Williams made 65 off 69 balls. They were dismissed within two overs of each other, but Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller steered Zimbabwe home to only its third win over Sri Lanka.
Raza was unbeaten on 67 and Waller on 40.
Earlier, Kusal Mendis topscored with 86 and the top order rallied around him to give Sri Lanka a solid 316-5 against Zimbabwe on Friday in the first oneday international in Galle in 17 years.
Sri Lanka opted to bat first having won the toss but lost a wicket early when opener Niroshan Dickwella gave his away on 10 to medium-pacer Tendai Chat- ara.
Mendis and opener Danushka Gunathilaka added 117 runs for the second wicket.
Gunathilaka made 60 off 77 deliveries including five boundaries and a six. He mishit a reverse sweep and was caught at backward point off spinner Sean Williams.
Mendis hit eight boundaries and a six in his 80-ball innings before being caught and bowled by captain Graeme Cremer.
Upul Tharanga anchored the rest of the innings with a 73-ball 79 not out which included eight boundaries and a six.
He combined for 74 with captain Angelo Mathews (43), and 56 with Asela Gunaratne (28).
Chatara returned the best bowling figures of 2-49.