Mendis, Mubarak seal SL win
Sunday, 30 November 2008
HARARE, Nov 29 (AP): Ajantha Mendis took six wickets and Jehan Mubarak top-scored with 60 not out Friday to steer Sri Lanka to a two-wicket win over Zimbabwe and a 4-0 lead in the five-match, limited-overs series.
After Mendis took 6-29 from nine overs with his ability to spin the ball either way to help bowl out Zimbabwe for 146, Mubarak scored the only half-century in the match as Sri Lanka won with 15 balls to spare at Harare Sports Club.
Tawanda Mupariwa and Elton Chigumbura each took three wickets to bring Zimbabwe within sight of its first victory of the series, but Mubarak hit one of six boundaries in his 99-ball innings through the covers off Chigumbura for the winning runs.
"He really batted well today," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said of Mubarak. "It was good to see because he came into the side not so long ago. He took responsibility and batted sensibly, It was good to see the investments we made four to five years ago coming right for us."
Sri Lanka can seal a whitewash series victory if it wins the final match Sunday.
After Mendis took 6-29 from nine overs with his ability to spin the ball either way to help bowl out Zimbabwe for 146, Mubarak scored the only half-century in the match as Sri Lanka won with 15 balls to spare at Harare Sports Club.
Tawanda Mupariwa and Elton Chigumbura each took three wickets to bring Zimbabwe within sight of its first victory of the series, but Mubarak hit one of six boundaries in his 99-ball innings through the covers off Chigumbura for the winning runs.
"He really batted well today," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said of Mubarak. "It was good to see because he came into the side not so long ago. He took responsibility and batted sensibly, It was good to see the investments we made four to five years ago coming right for us."
Sri Lanka can seal a whitewash series victory if it wins the final match Sunday.