Sri Lanka pull off record chase to beat Zimbabwe

Fighting half-centuries by Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne sparked Sri Lanka past a record 388 target to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets on Tuesday in a pulsating end to the 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 in Colombo.

Sri Lanka's previous best was against South Africa in 2006, when it achieved a 352-run target. The fourth innings total against Zimbabwe was also the highest in Asia and fifth highest in Tests.

The win was a boost for Dinesh Chandimal, the new Test captain, and eased Sri Lanka's pain after a shock defeat in the five-match One-Day International series that preceded it.

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

Player of the Match Gunaratne anchored the chase to perfection after Dickwella's departure, putting on an unbeaten 67-run partnership with Dilruwan Perera (29 not out), who hit a four to bring up the win with the scores level.

Gunaratne, who played most of the Test as a batsman after injuring his hamstring in the first innings, tackled the Zimbabwe spinners with ease during his 151-ball stay.

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

Dickwella first survived a stumping chance from Sikandar Raza's off-spin on 37, and was then dropped by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva on 63 to put the home side on course for a thrilling win.