Twitter Reactions: Craig Ervine's gritty 85-run knock steers Zimbabwe to a total of 358 runs against Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe embarked a new chapter of their Test history after they flagged off the first Test of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka yesterday. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the opening pair of Prince Masvaure and Kevin Kasuza stitched 96 runs for the first wicket till Lasith Embuldeniya finally broke the partnership in the 51st over.

The hosts kicked off the Test match with a slow but steady approach as they gathered 189 runs on the first day at the loss of two wickets. After recurring their Test journey in a composed manner, fans were eager to witness if Zimbabwe batsmen would accelerate their innings on the second day of the Test.

However, Sri Lanka retaliated by scalping wickets at regular intervals. After Ervine scored a cool-headed half-century and added 55 runs on the scoreboard on the first day of the Test, he continued his calm approach on the second day too as scored 85 runs before getting dismissed by Suranga Lakmal.

Sikandar Raza played a vital knock for Zimbabwe

After the departure of Brendon Taylor (21) and skipper Sean Williams (18), Sikandar Raza steadied their ship by staying in the middle and stitching a crucial 41-run knock. Raza’s lower-order knock propelled Zimbabwe to cross the 350-run mark on the scoreboard. Sikandar Raza was joined by Donald Tripiano, who also gathered 41 runs to steer Zimbabwe’s batting force.

Sri Lanka’s bowling force exhibited a much-improved performance on the second day as Lasith Embuldeniya completed his five-wicket haul. Embuldeniya was assisted by Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara, who scalped three and two wickets respectively to halt Zimbabwe’s first innings at 358 runs. Kevin Kasuza, who played a composed 63-run knock at the top, was the pick of Zimbabwe’s batting line-up.

Sri Lanka’s aim of not losing a wicket before the culmination of the second day was dented by Donald Tripiano as he scalped the wicket of Oshada Fernando in the 12th over. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led side gathered 42 runs on the board with the loss of a wicket before bad light stopped the day’s play. The visitors are now trailing 316 runs against Zimbabwe.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Almost half of this Zimbabwean team is an unknown quantity for me. And they scored 358 runs! #ZIMvSL

— Udendra Geeganage (@udendra) January 20, 2020

@ZimCricketv scored 358 in 1st innings of Harare test. #ZIMvSL

— mohsin (@mohsinhadeed) January 20, 2020

@cricbuzz thats the real prblm of teams like zim, they dont knw how to convert a good start into a big one..once they were 200-2 and now all out for 358.. #ZIMvSL

— Naman Mishra (@nmdg1901) January 20, 2020

BOWLED HIM! Tiripano bowls Fernando first ball with one that swung in devilishly. Yowe! Dangamvura in the building. Crowd goes wild. #KwiriTravels #ZIMvSL

— larry kwirirayi (@kwirirayi) January 20, 2020

Bad light stops play!

Sri Lanka are 42/1 after Donald Tiripano dismissed Oshada Fernando for 21.#ZIMvSL pic.twitter.com/omnTry4uJ2

— ICC (@ICC) January 20, 2020

Good wicket Tiripano owning the show. @ZimCricketv @AdamTheofilatos @_Kevels_ #ZIMvSL

— Тендай (@turndai) January 20, 2020

Pitch it up to Dimuth he’s falling over his front pad #lbw #ZIMvSL

— Zim Undercover Agent (@undercoverzimbo) January 20, 2020

Average start with the ball here 😕 @ZimCricketv #ZIMvSL

— Zim Undercover Agent (@undercoverzimbo) January 20, 2020

@ZimCricketv has put themselves in a place where they won't be losing this test..
To keep @OfficialSLC on the field for over 5 sessions and nearly 150 overs is simply Superb.. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼#SLvsZIM#ZIMvSL https://t.co/Bb1foHxRbK

— Piyush Soni (@Piyushto) January 20, 2020

Ahhh Victor just couldn’t control himself there and he’s left Donald Tiripano stranded again in the 40s as he has to wait a bit longer for his maiden Test 50. Good total though for @ZimCricketv 358 just need to back it up with ball now #ZIMvSL

— Zim Undercover Agent (@undercoverzimbo) January 20, 2020