By Trevor Makonyonga
Zimbabwe spinner Sikandar Raza Butt and pacer Donald Tiripano subjected the Sri Lanka batsmen to marque bowling which caused them to make a lot of mistakes.
The opening pair of Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando stood for a 94 run partnership before Sikandar pair Raza was 1 for 37 while Donald Tiripano closed at 1 wicket for 5 runs in 12 overs.
Raza broke through for Zimbabwe in the 33rd over trapping captain Dimuth Karunaratne leg before wicket for 44. Donald Tiripano bowled a slick off swinger which Oshada Fernando nicked only for wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva to dive to his left to complete a low catch.
The Zimbabwean fielding was shaky at times as Prince Masvaure dropped Kusal Mendis at silly point for 1 of the bowling of Raza.
Donald Tiripano failed to catch Kusal Mendis at square leg.
Commenting on the dropped chances Raza said that they would have wanted to take the chances and they had worked hard but he said the total was good enough.
Raza said, “It would have been ideal to take the chances. It’s okay, it’s a dropped ped catch it hurts all of us but we have to regroup quickly the next ball could present another challenge we will create more chances another half chance and we have to be mentally switched on for that.
” It happened hopefully we will work hard and we will get more chances and trust that Sri Lanka won’t cross our total.”
Zimbabwe had begun the day batting at 356 for 6 but wickets fell at ease with Regis Chakabva failing to complete a single run in the opening session falling for 31. Tino Mutombodzi fell for 33 while Donald Tiripano fell for 11. Zimbabwe completed their innings at 406.
Captain Sean Williams was missing in the day. It seemed Brendan Taylor was in charge of the team. Tymicen Maruma was the substitute fielder.
Lasith Embuldeniya took 4 for 182 taking three of them for the day.
The play was stopped because of bad lighting. Sri Lanka was at 122-2 at stumps. Kusal Mendis was at 19 and Angelo Mathews was at 4.
