Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 12-run in 2nd ODI

FE Team | Published: January 18, 2018 00:33:31

Zimbabwe cricketer Sikandar Raza reacts after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the second One Day International (ODI) cricket match in the Tri-Nation Serie between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. — AFP

The trio of Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza and Tendai Chatara brought Zimbabwe a 12-run win over Sri Lanka, their first victory against a Full Member at a neutral venue in 15 years at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in the city on Wednesday. Raza made an unbeaten 81 and took the key wicket of Kusal Perera, who made 80, report agencies.
He also took two catches, off Angelo Mathews and former Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera. It was the Thisara catch that finally swung the game Zimbabwe's way. Thisara climbed into Graeme Cremer for 15 runs in the 38th over, after his side slipped to 199 for 6 chasing 291 to win.
Earlier, the 100th ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium witnessed a sparkling Zimbabwe where a strong 290/6 against Sri Lanka in a match of the Tri-nation series.
The Lankans were on batting scoring 120*/2 in 22 overs with Kusal Perera (72*) and skipper Angelo Mathews (28*) at the crease in the 3rd wicket stand.
Sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe played 50 overs for their collection, showing persistent from the beginning as their opening stand between Masakadza and Solomon Mire shared 13 overs for 75 runs.
Masakadza continued up to 142/3 in 27.3 overs to share another partnership of 57 off 11 overs with Brendan Taylor in the 3rd wicket stand, which started after the dismissal of Craig Ervine on 85/2 in 16.3 overs. Opener Masakadza featured 10 boundaries off 83 balls, before being caught by substitute fielder Danushka Gunathilaka off Asela Gunaratne.