Herath spins Sri Lanka to the brink of victory against Zimbabwe
HARARE – Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath took five wickets for the second time in the match as they moved to the brink of victory on the fourth day of the second and final Test against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe were left teetering on 180 for seven in their second innings, 310 runs behind the tourists, who need three wickets on the final day at the Harare Sports Club to wrap up a series sweep.
Herath, who claimed 10 wickets in a Test match for the seventh time, exploited a turning pitch after Zimbabwe were put into bat just before tea, chasing 491 runs for victory.
Only Craig Ervine, who was 65 not out at the close of play, offered any resistance.
Sri Lanka started the fourth day on 102 for four with opener Dimuth Karunaratne falling 12 runs short of a century as he was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Mpofu.
They declared on 258 for nine when Kusal Perera was dismissed for 62.
Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer was again the pick of the home bowlers with figures of 4-91.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings 504 (D. de Silva 127, A. Gunaratne 116, U. Tharanga 79) Zimbabwe 1st innings 272 (B. Chari 80, C. Ervine 64, S. Williams 58; R. Herath 5-89) Sri Lanka 2nd innings (Overnight: 102-4) D. Karunaratne lbw b Mpofu 88 K. Silva c Waller b Mumba 6 K. Mendis c Mpofu b Mumba 0 U. Tharanga lbw b Cremer 17 D. de Silva c Chari b Mumba 9 A. Gunaratne lbw b Tiripano 39 K. Perera c Williams b Cremer 62 D. Perera c H. Masakadza b Cremer 2 R. Herath b Cremer 4 S. Lakmal not out 21 Extras (b-6 lb-4) 10 Total (for 9 wickets declared, 81.4 overs) 258 Fall of wickets: 1-14 K. Silva,2-16 K. Mendis,3-44 U. Tharanga,4-84 D. de Silva,5-153 A. Gunaratne,6-198 D. Karunaratne,7-201 D. Perera,8-211 R. Herath,9-258 K. Perera Did not bat: L. Kumara Bowling C. Mpofu 21 - 8 - 51 - 1 C. Mumba 19 - 4 - 67 - 3 G. Cremer 21.4 - 2 - 91 - 4 D. Tiripano 11 - 4 - 14 - 1 S. Williams 6 - 0 - 21 - 0 B. Chari 1 - 0 - 3 - 0 H. Masakadza 2 - 1 - 1 - 0 Zimbabwe 2nd innings (Target: 491 runs) T. Mawoyo c D. de Silva b Herath 15 B. Chari b Herath 8 H. Masakadza lbw b Herath 11 C. Ervine not out 65 S. Williams c K. Mendis b Kumara 45 M. Waller c K. Perera b D. de Silva 0 P. Moor c K. Mendis b Herath 20 G. Cremer b Herath 5 D. Tiripano not out 0 Extras (b-4 lb-4 w-3) 11 Total (for 7 wickets, 45 overs) 180 Fall of wickets: 1-16 B. Chari,2-32 H. Masakadza,3-39 T. Mawoyo,4-113 S. Williams,5-114 M. Waller,6-166 P. Moor,7-176 G. Cremer To bat: C. Mumba, C. Mpofu Bowling S. Lakmal 11 - 2 - 48 - 0 R. Herath 16 - 3 - 45 - 5 D. Perera 6 - 1 - 27 - 0 L. Kumara 9 - 0 - 42 - 1(w-1) D. de Silva 3 - 0 - 10 - 1 Referees Umpire: Simon Fry Umpire: Ian Gould TV umpire: Marais Erasmus Match referee: Chris Broad. –Reuters
