Agony for Zimbabwe as Sri Lanka chase 388

But toursits’ skipper Cremer fumes after umpire fails to give out on stumping

Colombo – Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne guided Sri Lanka to a record 388 target to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets yesterday in a pulsating end to their one-off Test.

A crucial 121-run sixth-wicket stand between Gunaratne (80 not out) and Dickwella (81) secured Sri Lanka’s best-ever run chase.

Their previous best was against South Africa in 2006, when they reached 352.

Yesterday’s chase was also the highest in Asia and fifth best in all Tests. Man-of-thematch Gunaratne anchored the pursuit to perfection after Dickwella’s departure, putting on an unbeaten 67-run partnership with Dilruwan Perera (29) to take the hosts to victory.

The win was a boost for new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal and eased Sri Lanka’s pain after a defeat in the one-day series against the minnows.

“It’s always tough when you’re batting in the fourth innings but I told the team that they should play their normal game and they played some outstanding innings, especially Dickwella and Asela.

“It’s always challenging as a captain but it’s about doing the right things on and off the field,” said Chandimal, who took over after Angelo Mathews quit because of the ODI (One-Day International) loss.

Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer claimed four wickets with his leg-spin to return overall figures of 9-275 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

But Gunaratne tackled the Zimbabwe spinners with ease during his 151-ball stay.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dickwella rode his luck to reach 81 before being caught behind off left-arm spinner Sean Williams while attempting an audacious reverse sweep.

When he was on 37 he survived a stumping chance off Sikandar Raza’s off-spin, and was dropped by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva on 63.

The stumping reprieve cost Zimbabwe dearly.

It was referred to the third umpire, who ruled him not out despite replays showing his toe was on the crease – a case in which the batsman can be given out.

“From what I saw, I honestly didn’t see any doubt why it should be not out, but it’s just one of those things,” Cremer said yesterday of the decision by Indian umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin. –