Mathews, Mendis hand Sri Lanka advantage Kasuza struck on helmet

ANGELO Mathews and Kusal Mendis handed Sri Lanka the advantage as their half-centuries helped the visitors end the third day on 295 for 4, trailing by just 63 runs yesterday.

Mathews was unbeaten on 93, while Mendis laid the platform with his 163-ball 80.

Having kept Sri Lanka on the field for 148 overs, it was Zimbabwe’s turn to toil as they picked up just three wickets in the day.

Dimuth Karnunaratne fell in the first session as he flicked Victor Nyauchi to midwicket to fall for 37. Both Mendis and Mathews then rebuilt the innings as Zimbabwe failed to grab the several runout opportunities the pair gave them. In the last over of the first session, Kevin Kasuza was struck on the head while fielding at short-leg and had to leave the field immediately as he looked in a considerable amount of pain.

Mendis and Mathews stretched their association to 92 before Nyauchi struck again. Mendis chased a wide one, lured by the fullish length, and was caught at first slip to give Zimbabwe an opening.

Mathews struck a six to move to 48 and then soon after completed his halfcentury off 154 balls to take Sri Lanka to 205 for 3 at tea. Dinesh Chandimal’s defiance was ended by Sean Williams in the 82nd over soon into the third session. Trying to loft the ball over the bowler,

DEBUTANT opening batsman Kevin Kasuza has passed an initial test for concussion after being struck on the side of his helmet while fielding at short leg during Sri Lanka’s innings in the ongoing Test match in Harare.

He will continue to be monitored overnight for concussion.

Typically, a player is assessed before the start of the next day’s play as well, as was the case recently when New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls was struck on the head by Jofra Archer and passed initial assessments.

A statement from Zimbabwe Cricket’s official Twitter handle said Kasuza had sustained a soft tissue injury to the skull, but a concussion test was negative and that a CT scan had ruled out internal injury. The incident occurred in the 42nd over when Kusal Mendis played a firm pull shot against Sean Williams.

Chandimal ended up lobbing the catch back to Williams as Zimbabwe continued to stick with the old ball.

The new ball was eventually taken in the 89th over as Kyle Jarvis put Mathews in a tangle several times. Dhananjaya de Silva too looked at ease from the other end as he steadily moved to an unbeaten

As Mendis was shaping up for the shot, Kasuza took the widely-used evasive position of tucking the head downwards and between the legs. However, Kasuza wasn’t particularly low in his squat and the ball struck the back of the right side of his helmet before ricocheting towards the fine leg boundary.

Kasuza was on his feet for a few seconds and only took his helmet off after the batsmen had completed two runs. It was at this point that he appeared to get dizzy, and was assisted by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva to stay on his feet before gently going down to the ground.

Shortly after, he walked off with the team doctor, pausing occasionally to regain his balance. He then went off for scans and took no further part on the day. Timycen Maruma replaced him in the field. — ESPNcricinfo

42 off 73.

With slow going on the first three days, Sri Lanka find themselves in a fascinating position. They will ideally look to bat out the first two sessions on the fourth day and build a significant lead before sticking the hosts back in on the slow surface. — Cricbuzz.