Zimbabwe choke again to gift Sri Lanka whitewash - Ajantha won Man of the Series Award

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 5th ODI, Harare

Cricinfo staff

November 30, 2008

Sri Lanka 152 (Kandamby 40, Rainsford 4-22) beat Zimbabwe 133 (Muralitharan 5-29) by 19 runs
Scorecard
How they were out

	The end draws near ... Nuwan Kulasekara celebrates dismissing Prosper Utseya © Cricinfo

Sri Lanka completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe with a 19-run victory in the fifth and final ODI at Harare Sports Club, but, not for the first time in the last week, Zimbabwe threw away a gilt-edged chance of winning within sight of the finishing line. Given a little more experience and common sense, Zimbabwe could actually have won two, if not three, of the matches, but when you average only 128 an innings, it is always going to be an uphill battle.

At the start of the 41st over, they needed 23 to win with four wickets in hand, with Keith Dabengwa and Prosper Utseya, who had added 72 for the seventh wicket, well set. Even though they held all the cards, in this series the Zimbabwe batting has been brittle, and today was to be no exception as they lost their last four wickets for three runs.

Dabengwa's dismissal started the collapse, bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara giving himself room when no risks were needed, and two overs later Kulasekara struck with successive deliveries to strip the remaining fight from the Zimbabweans. Muttiah Muralitharan, who had earlier left the top-order as bewildered as rabbits in car headlights, completed the formalities to finish with 5 for 29.

Had the specialist batsmen applied themselves as Dabengwa and Utseya did, then Zimbabwe would have romped to victory. The message from the Sri Lankan innings was clear for all to see - it was not a day for big hitting, and with a required rate of three an over, ones and twos would be enough. Instead, they set off as if this was a Twenty20 thrash, encouraging Mahela Jayawardene to summon Muralitharan as early as the fourth over to take them up on their challenge.

On a slow, low pitch favouring slow bowling, common sense dictated that the class of Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis needed careful management. Zimbabwe had other ideas and opted to either swing across the line or poke indecisively from the crease. After 12.1 overs they had crumbled to 58 for 6 and Muralitharan can rarely have taken four easier wickets.

Dabengwa and Utseya then combined in the only meaningful partnership of the day, galvanising a slumbering and small crowd into life. Sri Lanka played their part with some indifferent bowling and catching, Kumar Sangakkara the worst culprit with at least four spills including two in two off the unfortunate Mendis. On almost any other day, they would not have been able to shake off such lapses. That they did was entirely down to Zimbabwe's inexperience.

The shame was that Zimbabwe had turned in one of their best performances in the field to bowl Sri Lanka out for 152. The key to their success was the way their spinners exploited an already lifeless pitch to strangle the batsmen, supported by some excellent fielding.

It was the quick bowlers who made the breakthroughs, Jayawardene checking a drive off Tawanda Mupariwa to mid-off and then Ed Rainsford bowling Upul Tharanga via an inside edge and pad. Had Tatenda Taibu, who has had a poor series behind the stumps, held onto a bottom edge from Sangakkara in between those dismissals then Sri Lanka would have been in a real mess.

	Tatenda Taibu dives in vain to cut off a sweep by Jehan Mubarak © AFP

With his opening bowlers keeping a tight rein on things, Prosper Utseya, whose captaincy is under increasing scrutiny, kept them on, and he was rewarded when Chamara Kapugedera flicked Mupariwa to midwicket. At 23 for 3 in the 14th over, Zimbabwe were in control. Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak just about prevented the scoreboard from seizing up, but runs were at a premium early on, confirmed by the fact there were only two fours and a six in the entire innings.

The difficulty of batting on this surface was all too evident when the Sri Lankans tried to force the pace in the final overs. Despite some swings and heaves, runs remained elusive, although Angelo Mathews, whose intent was clear from the off and who alone appeared capable of scoring at a one-day rate, did manage a sweet six over midwicket.

As is so often the case, mix-ups were plentiful, and twice Taibu athletically pounced and scored direct hits to run-out the non striker, but as Sri Lanka tried to hit out, the chances came thick and fast. Rainsford, who has not had the best of luck in earlier games, returned to polish off the innings and finished with 3 for 22.

What mattered in the end was that the last ten overs produced 51 runs. Given Zimbabwe's lack of experience and rock-bottom confidence, that turned out to be the difference between the sides.

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Mendis the focus as Sri Lanka swoop in

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 5th ODI, Harare

Cricinfo staff

November 29, 2008

Match facts

Nov 30, 2008
Start time 9.30 am (0730 GMT)

Big Picture

	It is hard not to envision Ajantha Mendis becoming the fastest bowler to 50 ODI wickets © AFP

What do you do when you're down 0-4 going into the last match of a series? Zimbabwe may not even have the answer to that question. They pushed Sri Lanka in games three and four, but there's a difference between pushing and winning. A cursory look at Zimbabwe's totals so far - 127, 67, 166, 146 - inspires little confidence that they will improve upon that after four losses.

A five-match series against Sri Lanka was the most appetising contest Zimbabwe have had in months but unfortunately the results have been far from that. After a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Pakistan earlier this year, the home side face a similar predicament.

As for Sri Lanka, only a fool would have doubted a series victory before the team landed in Zimbabwe. The duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis troubled a famed Indian batting order, so it is not surprising that they have denied Zimbabwe runs. Mendis has taken 15 wickets at 7.06, including six in the last match, and Murali six from the three games he has been involved in. Murali may get another off day, but Mendis will surely play, given that he is two wickets from becoming the fastest bowler to 50 in ODIs.

One concern Sri Lanka will have is that no batsman has really imposed himself. Putting aside the second ODI, when Sri Lanka had to chase 68, the batting line-up has only managed two half-centuries. Both have been key innings, however - Kumar Sangakkara's 59-ball 57 ultimately proved crucial in a rare thriller in game three, while Jehan Mubarak's unbeaten 60 helped Sri Lanka edge Zimbabwe by two wickets to win the fourth match.

Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent last)

Zimbabwe LLLLL
Sri Lanka WWWWW

Watch out for

India's Ajit Agarkar broke Dennis Lillee's record for the fastest bowler to 50 wickets in ODIs that stood for nearly 26 years, but Mendis is primed to do undo him in just over a decade. And in five matches less than Agarkar's 23. Mendis hasn't just feasted on weaker sides: his bowling average against India reads 19 wickets from six games, and he took four wickets in one game versus Pakistan.

Sangakkara leads the series runs with 154 at 77.00. Should Sri Lanka bat first tomorrow, he will be keen to convert a start into a meaningful score. Back from surgery on an index finger, Sangakkara could do with a big score before Sri Lanka head home to host Bangladesh.

Tawanda Mupariwa has been one bright spot for Zimbabwe. He is their leading wicket-taker with eight at 14.87 and his 4 for 39 helped restrict Sri Lanka's strokeplay in a rain-hit third match, and he followed it up with 3 for 34 in the fourth. Mupariwa's accuracy has been his hallmark this series, with few four-balls on offer.

Team news

Ed Rainsford replaced Chris Mpofu for the last two matches but has failed to take a wicket. Zimbabwe will have to decide between keeping him or bringing back Mpofu, who doesn't have a wicket either. Shingirai Masakadza, brother of Hamilton, could get a debut given how poorly Zimbabwe's middle order has fared. Stuart Matsikenyeri, with 50 runs in four games, may miss out.

Zimbabwe (likely): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 4 Chamu Chibhabha, 5 Shingirai Masakadza, 6 Elton Chigumbura, 7 Prosper Utseya (capt), 8 Sean Williams, 9 Raymond Price, 10 Tawanda Mupariwa,11 Ed Rainsford

Angelo Matthews, the allrounder, made his debut in place of Farveez Maharoof, but made 0 and went wicketless from eight overs. He should retain his place to gain experience at the international level. Thilina Kandamby, who was recalled after a successful A tour to South Africa this year, could expect another appearance since 2004. It is possible that Sri Lanka will replace Chamara Kapugedera, who only has 56 runs in three innings.

Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Jehan Mubarak, 6 Thilina Kandamby 7 Angelo Matthews, 8 Thilan Thushara, 9 Ajantha Mendis, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Dilhara Fernando

Stats & Trivia

• With 86 runs from four games, Tatenda Taibu is Zimbabwe's highest scorer.
• Prosper Utseya, Zimbabwe's captain, opened the bowling in game four. His tidy offspin yielded him figures of 1 for 18 from ten overs. He only allowed two boundaries in a stifling spell that included four maidens.

Quotes

"The biggest thing is that we are improving with each outing. We came close on Monday and today we came close again. We showed all-round improvement. What we need is to put a decent totals on the scoreboard to reduce pressure on the bowlers."
Utseya puts up a brave face as another whitewash looms.

"It was good to see because he came into the side not so long ago. He took responsibility and batted sensibly. It was good to see the investments we made four to five years ago coming right for us."
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain, praises Mubarak's match-winning innings in game four.

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Mubarak holds nerve after Mendis' six

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 4th ODI, Harare

Cricinfo staff

November 28, 2008

Sri Lanka 147 for 8 (Mubarak 57*, Mupariwa 3-31) beat Zimbabwe 146 (Mendis 6-29)
Scorecard

	Ajantha Mendis helped himself to another healthy bag of wickets in Harare © PA Photos

A disciplined performance in the field from Zimbabwe gave Sri Lanka more than the occasional fright, but the visitors eventually crept over the line by two wickets in Harare. Jehan Mubarak calmed the situation with an unbeaten 57, but Sri Lanka made very heavy weather of reaching 147. Zimbabwe showed plenty of spirit as Tawanda Mupariwa snapped up three wickets and there was some impressive spin bowling.

When the seventh wicket fell Sri Lanka still needed 31 and the home side were in with a chance of their first ODI victory since beating West Indies in November 2007. Mubarak was the last specialist batsman, but he responded to the pressure by remaining calm during his 98-ball innings. He added an important 24 with Dammika Prasad, but there was a final twist when Elton Chigumbura removed Prasad with eight still needed. When Mubarak took a single to expose Ajantha Mendis to three balls of an over it was Zimbabwe's chance, but Ed Rainsford sent down a low full toss that Mendis, who starred with the ball by collecting 6 for 29, clipped through midwicket.

The steady start provided by Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte was deceptive and three wickets fell without the score moving. Prosper Utseya, who gave himself the new ball, removed Tharanga when he tried to sweep and got a top edge. In the next over Mupariwa really opened the door for Zimbabwe when he claimed Udawatte - driving to extra cover - followed by Mahela Jayawardene first ball, trapped half forward to a ball that would have taken middle.

While Zimbabwe have struggled to compete with bat and ball for a long time, there fielding has often remained up to the mark and Chamu Chibhabha pulled off a stunning grab at point, diving full length to his left, to remove Chamara Kapugedera.

As the top order wobbled, Kumar Sangakkara was trying to hold the chase together but struggled to find his usual timing on a pitch offering plenty for the bowlers. Balls were often stopping on the surface and it was one such delivery that did for Sangakkara as he popped a return catch back to Chigumbura. With another key man back in the pavilion, Zimbabwe's confidence really began to surge and belief rose further when Ray Price bowled Angelo Mathews for a duck.

Tailenders are not the best at keeping their cool in tight situations and Thilan Thushara won't have endeared himself to his team-mates with a wild heave at Chigumbura, which was taken at deep cover. Fortunately for Sri Lanka, Prasad showed more composure and Mendis did what was required.

It would have been tough for Mendis to end on the losing side as he again demonstrated his full repertoire with a six-wicket haul. He came on in the 14th over and struck with his fifth delivery, trapping Vusi Sibanda lbw. The batsmen struggled to lay bat on Mendis' variations with Stuart Matsikenyeri and Chamu Chibhabha also being trapped in front by differing degrees of flight and pace.

A major blow to Zimbabwe's hopes had come form pace, though, with Tatenda Taibu - their best batsman - edging to slip off the lively Thushara. The left-arm quick produced an impressive spell to complement the wiles of Mendis as the innings continued to limp forward.

Keith Dabengwa at least offered some defiance with a combative 32 off 59 balls, but he lacked any support. When the main bowlers were given a break, Mubarak's part-time offspin proved good enough to remove Chigumbura, who scratched around for 42 balls to make his 5 before Mendis collected two more as the tail subsided.

This time, though, it wasn't just Zimbabwe's batsmen who failed to prosper and the match developed into a unexpectedly exciting contest. Sadly, that's the exception rather than the rule.

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