Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, IV tri-series ODI, Bulawayo – Preview
After clinching a tie by restricting West Indies to just three runs when they needed four from the last over in the previous game on Saturday, Zimbabwe would want to keep the good work going when it faces Sri Lanka in the fourth match of the triangular One-Day International series in Bulawayo on Monday (November 21).
Zimbabwe is bottom of the table at the moment, the two points from the tie all it gas, but a win against Sri Lanka will put it at par with its Monday opponents on five points – West Indies is leading with seven points from two matches.
In what was just the 34th tie in 3806 ODIs, West Indies was chasing 258 for their second win; the first one came with a bonus point. With the final over left and West Indies within one big hit of victory, Graeme Cremer brought on Donald Tiripano, who had not bowled since the tenth over of the innings. But Tiripano held his nerve well as West Indies lost three wickets.
It was a result worth celebrating for Zimbabwe, who has had little joy in recent times.
“We've still got a lot of work to do to get ourselves to the final,” said Heath Streak, the new Zimbabwe coach, after the match. “Monday (against Sri Lanka) is an important game for us. We've just to make sure we come out with that same positivity. We have a big game on Monday, but we've got to take it one over at a time, one ball at a time.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, who was chasing 228 in its second match, against West Indies on Wednesday, lost by 62 runs after getting off to a poor start. With the loss, Sri Lanka, who had beaten Zimbabwe by eight wickets to win with a bonus point in the inaugural game of the series, has come to within striking distance of the home side, making the clash an exciting one.
Nuwan Kulasekara and Suranga Lakmal have been consistent in the tournament, giving Sri Lanka a good start with the ball in both matches, but it’s the top order that Sri Lanka would be worried about heading into this contest.
After dominating Zimbabwe in the first match, the top six batsmen faltered against West Indies as it crumbled to 165 all out. Fielding a relatively inexperienced side, Sri Lanka will pin a lot of its hopes on Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga, its captain, to take it forward with the bat.
For Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza were among the runs in the game against West Indies, but it needs the likes of Chamu Chibhabha and Brian Chari to chip in more to keep its hopes of making it to the final alive.
Tiripano and Chris Mpofu have spearheaded the bowling for the home side, and given the nature of the pitch at Queen's Sports Club, Cremer will continue to expect a lot from his pacers.
Teams (from)
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, Chamu Chibhabha, Peter Moor (wk), Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chisoro, Brian Chari, Carl Mumba, Christopher Mpofu, Tinashe Panyangara.
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Upul Tharanga (capt), Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asela Gunaratne, Sachith Pathirana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Jeffery Vandersay.