Ervine helps Zimbabwe draw level

Craig Ervine`s experience and Malcolm Waller`s composure blended well as Zimbabwe overcame rain, pressure and fading light to clinch a steep chase and take the series into the decider. The four-wicket win in Hambantota was as much a result of their good work with the ball in the last 15 overs, off which they conceded only 92, to restrict Sri Lanka to 300 for 6. This after 350 looked on at one stage after Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka became the first pair in ODI history to put together back-to-back double century stands.

Solomon Mire biffed a 30-ball 43 as Zimbabwe overcame loss of two quick wickets. They were nine runs ahead of DLS, at 139 for 3 in 21 overs, when rain stopped play. One hour, 36 minutes later, Zimbabwe`s target was a much steeper 219 off 31 overs. Off the eighth ball after resumption, they lost Sean Williams as he waltzed down the pitch to swing through, only to be stumped. Then, Wanindu Hasaranga, the 19-year old legspinner, picked up his third wicket courtesy a sensational return catch to dismiss Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe were trembling. The equation read 47 off 34. The ball was suddenly keeping low.

But Williams stood firm, sweeping and reverse-sweeping his way to a half-century to keep Zimbabwe alive. Waller biffed three fours in a 13-ball 20 as the pair added 43 off just 20 balls. When he fell, Zimbabwe needed four of 10 balls. Ervine, fittingly, polished off the remaining runs with a delicate reverse paddle as Zimbabwe won with 10 balls to spare. Prior to this series, Zimbabwe had never won an ODI in Sri Lanka ever. On this tour alone, they made two new entries and both quite emphatically.

Zimbabwe`s top order rode a slight wobble after a 67-run opening stand between Mire and Hamilton Masakadza. When Hasaranga threatened to turn the tide by picking two quick wickets, they rode Ervine`s solidity to overcome any hurdle they may have to stave off Sri Lanka`s spin challenge. That was up until rain intervened to make their target much steeper, but with seven wickets in hand, the reduced equation - 80 off 60 balls - was within the realms of possibility.

That meant Dickwella and Gunathilaka`s 209 stand in 35.4 overs, during the course of which Dickwella becoming just the eighth Sri Lankan to post back-to-back centuries, went in vain. Gunathilaka, who curbed his aggressive style of play for large parts of the innings, fell for 87. Sri Lanka`s total may have seemed enough on most days, but not against a young and unheralded batting line-up that came out and attacked with intent, seemingly unperturbed by the spin threat or the big boundaries.

But there was a brief scare when the rains arrived with Zimbabwe needing to bat out one over to constitute a game. Sensing the possibility of going off, Angelo Mathews reintroduced Lasith Malinga. The first two balls took three minutes even as the drizzle picked up, leaving umpire Nigel Llong to have a chat with Angelo Mathews to speed up proceedings. He eventually finished the overs as Zimbabwe breathed a sigh of relief, before they went off.

That Sri Lanka found themselves behind in the second innings was because of a slowdown towards the end overs. The inability of the middle order to come in and strike right from the outset gave Zimbabwe an outside chance, which they converted. The openers started cautiously before Dickwella signaled change of intent by hitting comeback man Christopher Mpofu for successive boundaries in the fifth over. Sri Lanka motored to 54 without loss in eight overs when Graeme Cremer, the captain, introduced spin. The move brought about a slightly cautious approach from both batsmen, yet their degree of control stood out. Dickwella brought up his half-century off 47 deliveries.

Gunathilaka steered away from his naturally aggressive self by treading a cautious path. He also received a massive slice of luck on 44 when Cremer put down a tough return catch. But he changed gears soon after bringing up his half-century, even as Zimbabwe`s bowlers continued to stick to containing mode. Dickwella became only the eighth Sri Lankan to get back-to-back tons. With 18 overs left, Sri Lanka, cruising at 193 without loss.

To add to their woes, Zimbabwe reprieved both Dickwella and Gunathilaka soon after they brought up the 200 stand,but it didn`t cost them much as Malcolm Waller accounted for both of them with his fast whippy offspin. While Mathews made a 40-ball 42, the lower order just couldn`t kick on as Sri Lanka could manage just 37 off the last five overs. Waller`s 2 for 44 stood out like desert rose.

Source: ESPNcricinfo