Cremer's maiden ton holds Zimbabwe up
Graeme Cremer became the first Zimbabwe player to score a century and take four wickets in an innings in the same match, but Sri Lanka still had the upper hand on day three of thefirst Test at Harare Sports Club on Monday (October 31).
The Zimbabwe captain's unbeaten 102 - his maiden Test ton - and Peter Moor's 79 helped Zimbabwe post 373 in reply to Sri Lanka's first-innings score of 537 all out, a deficit of 164. Sri Lanka's openers then played out three remaining overs to reach 5 for no loss, extending the team's lead to 169.
Zimbabwe began the day on a promising 88 for 1 but quickly slipped to 139 for 6, losing five wickets for just 47 runs on the third morning. The home side was in danger of collapsing, but Cremer and Moor revived the innings with a 132-run stand for the seventh wicket.
It was Moor who took the attack to the opposition during the partnership, gradually changing the momentum of the innings. He hit two early sixes to force the field back even as Cremer remained content to provide dogged support from the other end.
The pair put Zimbabwe back on track before the stand was broken when Lahiru Kumara produced a quick bouncer that Moor fended to slip to fall for an 84-ball 79 that included three sixes and six fours. Kumara went on to knock Cremer’s helmet off his head and rattle the Zimbabwe skipper too.
Moor fell towards the end of the second session but Cremer carried on, receiving decent support from Donald Tiripano, who added 92 for the eighth wicket with his captain. When Tiripano and Carl Mumba fell in quick succession, Cremer was in danger of running out of partners but he reached his maiden ton, tucking Kusal Mendis to square-leg.
Suranga Lakmal then bowled Chris Mpofu, the No. 11, for his third wicket, while Rangana Herath also ended with three scalps.
Zimbabwe had resumed on a promising 88 for 1 in the morning, but lost wickets quickly.
Tino Mawoyo, the opening batsman, went first when he pulled a short ball from Lakmal straight to the man in the deep to depart for 45, and two overs later, Hamilton Masakadza prodded forward to edge Lakmal to slip for 33.
A sweep from Sean Williams saw him pick out deep midwicket, while Craig Ervine and Malcolm Waller were trapped leg before by Dilruwan Perera.
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