Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, One-off Test – 5 Game Changing Moments

The only Test match of the series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was expected to be tightly contested after the visitors dismantled the hosts 3-2 in the ODI series. It indeed turned out to be a cracker and one that left the fans of the two nations on the edge of their seats. Day after day, the momentum kept shifting towards either troops and at the end, Sri Lanka prevailed in a record-breaking chase.

Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first at Premadasa. Craig Ervine’s supreme effort of 160 helped them post a total of 356 in their first innings despite a fifer from Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka then looked set to gain a lead but a five-wicket haul from Graeme Cremer restricted them 10 runs short.

Having a slender lead, the visitors almost crumbled under pressure and were left reeling when half their side was back in hut at 59. But Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller brought substance to the innings and helped them to 377 setting a target of 388. Sri Lanka’s chase had plenty of twists and turns but at the end, Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratna pulled off a stunning victory for the side.

Here are the 5 Game Changing Moments from the epic match

Craig Ervine’s solo effort

Zimbabwe kept losing wickets at regular intervals but there was one man who refused to give up. Craig Ervine walked in to bat at 38/2 that worsened to 38/3 and then 70/4. He found able supports in the form of Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller who constructed fifty partnership apiece alongside Ervine.

He went on to score 160 off 256 balls that included 13 fours and a six. His knock helped his side to a solid total otherwise they were in danger of being bowled out for a paltry score. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Ervine stuck firmly to the crease and became the last wicket to fall in the innings.

Graeme Cremer halted Sri Lanka

In the first innings, the hosts were off to a great start when the opening pair added 84 runs. Then, at 107/1, they seemed set to cruise past Zimbabwe’s total. But Graeme Cremer accounted for the wicket of Kusal Mendis that pushed them on the back foot. That was the decisive blow that opened the floodgates for Sri Lanka.

The leg-spinner further dismissed Dinesh Chadimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunaratne and Suranga Lakmal to end with figures of 125/5. He was the most effective bowler on the pitch and at times, looked even better than Herath.

Raza-Waller overcame Herath’s might

Rangana Herath wreaked havoc in Zimbabwe’s second innings when he removed 4 of the top 5 batsmen. All looked like surrendering to the left-arm spinner when they were struggling at 59/5. With a lead of just 69, Zimbabwe were under threat of losing too easily.

But Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller got together and batted with intent to bail the side out of trouble. The duo added 144 runs for the 7th wicket and brought the side in a commanding position. Waller got out after scoring 68 off 98 but Raza carried on to make 127 that put Zimbabwe in control of the match.

Dickwella’s counter-attack

Chasing 388, the openers once again provided a decent start. After a while, Sri Lanka kept the hopes of a win alive when they reached 108/1. But as Dimuth Karunaratne got out, they lost the plot and started losing wickets in quick succession. A lot was resting on Angelo Mathews’s shoulders but he too departed soon and at 203/5, the visitors were in the driver’s seat.

Niroshan Dickwella, who had a tremendous ODI series, was in no mood to give it away so easily. He went after the bowling and for the first time, the Zimbabwean bowlers were forced to do something different. He scored 81 off just 118 balls with 6 boundaries that brought Sri Lanka closer to the target. When he was dismissed, the hosts were just 64 runs short of creating history.

Gunaratne’s gritty knock

The right-hander played what proved to be the match-defining innings. First, when Dickwella was on the attack, Gunaratne played second fiddle to him and didn’t try to match him shot for shot. The duo added 121 runs for the 6th wicket in which Gunaratne contributed 50 runs.

But when his partner got out, he took the matters into his own hands. Dilruwan Perera played a handy knock of 29 off 76 balls and supported Gunaratne who, in turn, scored 80 off 151 balls. The stand of 67 for the 7th wicket took Sri Lanka past the line and brought a moment of history for the nation.