There was no respite for hapless and outclassed Zimbabwe asthey were beaten for the 12th straight times when Sri Lankacantered home by 63 runs in the opening match of the KhaleejTimes Trophy here Friday
Rehan Siddique27-Oct-2001There was no respite for hapless and outclassed Zimbabwe asthey were beaten for the 12th straight times when Sri Lankacantered home by 63 runs in the opening match of the KhaleejTimes Trophy here Friday.Chasing a not too formidable target of 256, Zimbabwe foundthe going tough and were bowled out for 183 in 50 overs withmedium-pacer Charita Buddika making a dream debut byclaiming five wickets for 67 runs. His performance earnedthe newcomer the Man-of-the-Match award.Zimbabwe, still finding their feet at the highest level, didwell to restrict Sri Lanka to 256. But their fragile battingonce again caved in without Fight.Only a late defiance by all-rounder Sean Ervine gave thetotal some respectability with his chancy 47 that includedtwo huge sixes and three fours.From the movement opener Doug Marillier got out in Buddika’sfirst over, it was an uphill struggle for Zimbabwe batsmen.Everything depended on Flower brothers and when Andy wasremoved by Dilhara Fernando, it was virtually all over.The fate of the match was sealed when Grant Flower was runout while going for a second run to make 89 for four. Thetask of overtaking Sri Lanka’s total Looked a hopelesscause.Later, Zimbabwe batsmen’s plight was compounded by masteroff-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who was virtuallyunplayable to finish with outstanding figures of 10-4-16-2.On today’s performance it will need something out ofordinary by Zimbabwe to make the Nov 4 final and in allprobability it will be a repeat of April final betweenPakistan and Sri Lanka.Earlier, on a flat and easy paced track Sri Lanka failed totake advantage and managed just 256 for six wickets.Perhaps the early and cheap dismissals of the openersskipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Avishka Gunewardena made theother batsmen be more circumspect. However, Marvan Atapattu(92) and Russel Arnold (76 not out) did ensure a respectabletotal for the bowlers to bowl at. The two steadied theinnings after Maheela Jayawardena (33) became second run outvictim due to a misunderstanding.Arnold and Atapattu put on 115 for the fourth wicket inalmost run-a-ball before the former holed out to CraigWishart for a well-crafted 92 made off 110 balls with fivefours.Arnold, from then on, held the innings together but couldnot score freely against a modest Zimbabwe bowling resourcesin which only part-timer Doug Marillier emerged with muchcredit. He conceded only 36 runs from his quota of 10 overs.Despite losing Romesh Kaluwitharana (3) and Chaminda Vaas(13) in quick succession, Arnold kept going and ended upunbeaten on 76 scored off 94 balls with only three fours.Zimbabwe attack lacked sting but they fielded superbly andit did help in restricting Sri Lankans galloping to anunchallengeable total.