Fighting
half-centuries by Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne sparked Sri Lanka to a
record 388 target to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets 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 they 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 new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal and eased Sri Lanka’s pain
after a shock defeat in the one-day series against the minnows.
Zimbabwe
skipper Graeme Cremer claimed four wickets with his leg-spin to return overall
figures of 9-275 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Man 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).
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.
Wicketkeeper-batsman
Dickwella rode his luck to reach 81 before being caught behind off left-arm
spinner Sean Williams while attemping 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 hosts on course
for a win.
Dickwella’s
stumping reprieve cost the visitors dearly after it was referred to the third
umpire, who ruled him not out despite replays showing his toe was on the
crease-a case where the batsman can be given out.
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