Sri Lanka on top despite Zim resurgence
Sri Lanka held a lead of 334 runs at stumps on day three of the second Test in Harare, despite Zimbabwe reducing them to 102 for four in their second innings.
Sri Lanka may have lost those wickets but were still well ahead because they had bowled the hosts out for 272 earlier in the day, with Rangana Herath bagging a five-fer.
It was the veteran spinner’s first five-fer against Zim, and also meant he became just the third bowler to claim a ‘Michelle’ against all nine other Test nations. Muttiah Muralitharan and Dale Steyn are the other two.
The hosts will be disappointed with their score after starting the day on 126 for two, with both Brian Chari and Craig Ervine sitting pretty on 60 apiece.
Ervine was only able to add four more runs to his score before falling to Suranga Lakmal. Sean Williams then joined Chari and the pair added another 39 runs.
Chari was out for 80, bowled by Herath, and from there it was only Williams who resisted. He went on to record a half ton in a lone battle, as the Sri Lankans shared the tail end spoils.
Sri Lanka went in to bat seven overs before tea and lost no wickets in that time, though the eveing was a different story as Carl Mumba claimed three wickets.
He got rid of Kaushal Silva and Kusal Mendis within a few runs of each other, and added first innings centurion Dhananjaya de Silva’s wicket as well, for nine.
Upul Tharanga was trapped LBW by Graeme Cremer to put the visitors on 84 for four, leaving Dimuth Karunaratne to rescue the knock. He was on 54 at the close, having ensured a formidable lead.
Latest
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff would be excellent England coach – Rob Key
The former national team captain will lead Northern Superchargers in The Hundred this summer.