Raza heroics give Zimbabwe the edge

Sri Lanka started day three brighter but a big seventh wicket stand from Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller swung things back Zimbabwe’s way.
Asela Gunaratne and Rangana Herath added 22 runs to the overnight total before the latter was stumped off the bowling of Sean Williams.
Suranga Lakmal made a valuable 14 in a partnership of 21 with the hamstrung Gunaratne.
Lakmal was caught and bowled by Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer before the captain completed his five wicket haul by bowling Gunaratne (45) to end the Sri Lanka innings on 346 giving the tourists a ten run lead.
The job of setting a target got off to a rocky start as Zimbabwe slipped to 23 for 4 as Rangana Herath claimed three early scalps.
Sean Williams (22) and Raza briefly stopped the rot adding 36 for the fifth wicket but things looked dire when the allrounder was bowled by Herath.
Raza was steely in his determination though adding 86 with wicketkeeper Peter Moor (40) before he was joined by Malcolm Waller and the pair put on an unbroken stand of 107.
Waller (57*) recorded his third Test fifty while Raza, playing the innings of his life while battling exhaustion, ended the day three runs short of a maiden Test century.
Raza’s mixture of defence and attack and Waller’s stroke making ensured that Zimbabwe kept the scoreboard ticking over with the total already sure to Test Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe reached 252/6 by the close of play for a 262 run lead with plenty of time left in the Test to force a result.
Latest
-
News
Darren Stevens ‘looking forward to the ‘next chapter’ as his Kent innings ends
The all-rounder will leave Kent after 17 years at the end of the season.
-
News
Darren Stevens announces his retirement at the age of 46
The all-rounder’s 17-year stint at Kent will end later this year.
-
The Hundred
Hundred history-maker Will Smeed: ‘I very much still want to play everything’
The rising star of the white-ball game could be on England’s radar.
-
The Hundred
Lauren Winfield-Hill stars as Oval Invincibles begin title defence with big win
The home side defeated the Northern Superchargers by nine wickets.
-
News
Sam Curran the main man as Oval Invincibles beat Northern Superchargers
Curran scored 60 in his side’s three-wicket win at the Kia Oval.
-
England
England opener Alex Lees keen to see aggressive approach adopted in county game
The Durham batter has used the break in Test cricket to spread the word.
-
The Hundred
‘It was awesome’ – Will Smeed ends his 90s curse to hit Hundred’s first century
The youngster had fallen short of a maiden century on multiple occasions during the first half of 2022.
-
The Hundred
Will Smeed becomes first batter to hit ton in Hundred during Birmingham win
The opener cracked an unbeaten 101 off 50 balls.
-
England
Women’s game on upward trend and schools an important target – Anya Shrubsole
The 30-year-old pace bowler was restricted to competing against boys during childhood.