Sri Lanka pull off record run chase
IT WASN’T always pretty but a sensational 121run sixth-wicket stand from Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne helped Sri Lanka to a record runchase victory against Zimbabwe.
In a one-off Test between the nations, Sri Lanka reeled in 388 with four wickets to spare – completing the highest successful chase ever produced in Asia and bettering the country’s previous best fourth-innings pursuit of 352 against South Africa in 2006.
Gunaratne, who smashed 80 not out, anchored the innings to perfection following Dickwella’s departure for 81, steering the Sri Lankans home in Colombo to give new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal a much-needed boost.
And the skipper, who took over from Angelo Mathews following the recent ODI series defeat against the same side, expressed relief after narrowly avoiding the embarrassment of a first-ever Test defeat to Zimbabwe
He said: “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.”
Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer claimed four wickets with his leg-spin to return overall figures of 9-275 at the R. Premadasa Stadium but could not guide his team to a famous victory.
Craig Ervine’s 160 in the first innings and all-rounder Sikandar Raza’s 127 were the standout batting displays for the tourists, leaving Cremer proud of his side’s efforts.
“Credit to them, but the way the guys fought and got the runs on the board and pushed Sri Lanka till the last day was great,” said Cremer. “We don’t play enough Test cricket, so it’s hard sometimes making decisions, but there is a lot to learn from this match.
“The one-day series is a high point for us, we brought that confidence into the Test match and it gave us the belief that we could push the big teams.”
For Sri Lanka, veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took five-fors in each innings as he picked up man of the series for his 11-249 figures.
The 39-year-old said: “I know I have bowled a lot of overs, but when you still enjoy playing cricket, I wouldn’t mind bowling more in future.
“Overall, this Test match was very good. They were playing sweeps and reverse sweeps, which made it hard for us. But we played better than Zimbabwe, that is why we are here.”