Sri Lanka stay alive in tri-nation

Perera the hero as hosts sink Zimbabwe

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jan 21, (Agencies): Thisara Perera came up with stellar all-round performance as Sri Lanka stayed alive in the tri-nation one-day tournament, securing a five-wicket win against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Perera’s 4-33 wrapped up Zimbabwe innings for 198 before his fluent 26-ball 39 not out helped Sri Lanka race to 2025 in 44.5 overs. He hit one four and three sixes, the last of which sealed the game.

Zimbabwe, however, briefly appeared to turn the game in their favor, courtesy to paceman Blessing Muzarabani who moved the ball admirably on a helpful surface to strike three times in three overs.

He broke through with the wicket of Kusal Perera who scored 49 and shared a 70-run stand with Mendis. Muzarabani followed it up with the wicket of Mendis (36) and Niroshan Dickwella (7) to raise the prospect of another victory over Sri Lanka.

Chandimal resisted but Kyle Jarvis further troubled Sri Lanka with the wicket of Asela Gunratne (9).

Perera helped the side hit back with counterattack and hastened the victory.

Perera’s effort with the ball gave Sri Lanka a relatively easy target to chase. Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep played a strong supporting role, claiming a career best 3-28.

Brendan Taylor who returned to the Zimbabwe national team following his three-year stint with Nottinghamshire, was the highest scorer with 58.

He held together the innings after Perera had Zimbabwe wobbling at 563. Left arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan then dismissed the in-form Sikandar Raza, leaving Zimbabwe on 73-4 but Taylor was unfazed by the spirited Sri Lanka side, which needed to win the game to have any chance of joining Bangladesh in the final.

Taylor and Malcolm Waller combined for a 63-run stand for the fifth wicket to resurrect the innings before Sandakan again struck to get rid of Waller on 24.Perera then returned for his second spell to take the prized scalp of Taylor after he had brought up his 33rd half-century, which included six fours.

Taylor’s dismissal effectively ended Zimbabwe’s hopes of setting a big total. Pradeep joined the party to clean up the tail, as Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer provided the resistance reaching 34 before seeing his leg-stump uprooted.

Playing for the first time in the tournament, Sandakan returned figures of 2-57.