Perera helps Lankans crush Zimbabwe

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Sri Lanka have notched up a five-wicket victory with Thisara Perera’s all-round performance against Zimbabwe and kept afloat their hope for a berth in the final of the seven-match Tri-nation series, reports UNB.

Sri Lanka chased down a target of 199 runs, scoring 202 for 5 in 44.5 overs, where opener Kusal Perera played top-scoring innings of 49 off 57 balls, including four boundaries and one six, in the 4th match of the meet at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. 

Man of the match Thisara Perera  fired a six in the last ball of the match off Tendai Chatara to draw the winning line.

Perera blasted 39 off 26 balls, courtesy to one four and three sixes.

An unbeaten partnership of 57 off 10.1 overs with the stand in captain Dinesh Chandimal, who scored 38 off 71 balls in the 6th wicket stand for a clean finishing, which has changed the league scenario making the next two matches, against host Bangladesh,as must-win for the final berth for both the visiting sides.   

Sri Lanka was jolted on 33/1 in 9.1 overs as Upul Tharanga was bowled out by Tendai Chatara.

Tharanga added invaluable 17 from 34 balls, comprising two fours.

Kusal Perera continued with Kusal Mendis for a partnership innings of 70 off 12.4 overs in the 2nd wicket stand, which ended on 103 for 2 in 21.5 overs as Kusal Perera was caught by substitute fielder R Murray off Blessing Muzarabani who found the next two wickets-Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella-keeping the opponents on 110 for 3 in 24 and 117 for 4 in 25.3 overs respectively.  Muzarabani conceded 52 runs to get his three-for in 10 overs while Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara took one wicket each for 34 and 40 runs respectively.

Batting first after winning the toss, Zimbabweans were all out for 198 in 44 overs where Brendon Taylor hit a half century of 58 off 80 balls, including six boundaries.  Taylor, caught by Upul Tharanga off all-rounder Thisara Perera on 171 for 7 in 37.4 overs, shared a partnership of 66 off 12.2 overs with Malcolm Waller in the 5th wicket stand.

The only notable partnership innings in the 5th stand was ended on 139for 5 in 29 overs, starting after the dismissal of Sikandar Raza on from 73 for 4 in 16.4 overs, as Waller was caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella off Lakshan Sandakan.

Zimbabwe started the innings with good note as their opening pair between Hamilton Masakadza and Solomon Mire contributed 44 off 10 overs. But they lost their wickets in a gradual interval before Taylor-Waller stand in the 5th.

Nuwan Pradeep did a great job for Lankans bowling out three Zimbabwean wickets-Kyle Jarvis, skipper Graeme Cremer and Blessing Muzarabani-within a span of 7 off 15 balls.

Thisara Perera found four top order batsmen-Mire, Masakadza, Craig Ervine and Taylor - conceding economic 33 runs in eight overs.

Lakshan Sandakan bagged two wickets for 57 runs in 10 overs for Sri Lanka. 

Zimbabwe will play the next match against host Bangladesh at the same venue on January 23 while Sri Lanka against the same side on January 25 before the final on January 27.  Playing two matches each, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have secured identical four points while Bangladesh confirmed the final berth with two matches to spare securing all-win 10 points from two games.  Zimbabwe started their campaign with an eight-wicket loss against Bangladesh and found Sri Lanka for a 12-run victory. Sri Lanka lost another game against Bangladesh by a record 163 runs.