Sri Lanka V Zimbabwe, One off Test: Sri Lanka Player Ratings

Jul 18, 2017 at 7:14 PM

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Sri Lanka V Zimbabwe, One off Test: Sri Lanka Player Ratings

Sri Lanka managed to save themselves from the blushes by winning the one off Test against minnows Zimbabwe by 6 wickets. They chased down 388 in the 4th innings which is the highest score chased by a team in Asian conditions, eclipsing India’s 387/4 against England in Chennai. The hosts were pushed to a corner today morning but it was Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne who ensured that the hosts reached the target quite comfortably in the end.

Graeme Cremer created a problem for the Sri Lankan batsman but in the end, it was a brilliant effort by the lower middle order to give the Islanders a hard fought victory. Here is a look at the Player Ratings of Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne- 3/5

The left-handed opener looked in good touch during his brief stays in both the innings. In the 1st innings, he batted 66 balls for a composed 25 before giving away his wicket to Donald Tiripano. In the 2nd essay he played some good shots and looked in pursuit for a half-century but it wasn’t to be as he was castled by Sean Williams.

Upul Tharanga-3.5/5

The newly appointed ODI captain looked in ominous touch in the 1st essay and executed some delightful shots to perfection. His innings of 71 contained 10 fours and a hit over the fence. He couldn’t quite get a big one after getting run by Tiripano. In the 2nd essay Tharanga began with a couple of boundaries but with the score at 27, the southpaw was bamboozled by leggie Graeme Cremer.

Kusal Mendis- 3/5

The youngster was dismissed cheaply in the 1st essay by Graeme Cremer after making only 11 but the free flowing middle order batsman regained his lost touch in the 2nd innings. After a good opening partnership, Mendis announced his arrival in the crease by smashing a couple gorgeous shots. He applied himself well and churned out 66 runs of 101 deliveries before falling prey to Graeme Cremer for yet another time.

Dinesh Chandimal- 3/5

The newly appointed Test captain came back to some run scoring form in the 1st essay with a well composed 55. He was troubled quite a few times by Cremer but applied himself well to negate the initial burst. His innings of 55 contained 6 hits to the fence before eventually to the leggie for one more time. In the 2nd essay, he only managed 15 and was dismissed by the same bowler.

Angelo Mathews- 3/5

The former captain played some good shots in the 1st essay and accumulated 41 runs before falling prey to Sean Williams. The right-hander struck a couple of boundaries in his innings. He played himself in and managed to score 25 in the 2nd essay before a soft dismissal of the bowling of Graeme Cremer brought down the curtains on his innings.

Niroshan Dickwella- 4/5

The wicket-keeper batsman played the match changing innings in the 2nd essay which tilted the scales in favour of the hosts. After Graeme Cremer castled him for 6 in the 1st essay, Dickwella came out firing and started taking on the Zimbabwe bowlers with disdain. He played some audacious shots and was instrumental in taking the hosts towards the victory target. He was eventually dismissed on 81 as left-arm spinner Sean Williams brought about his downfall.

Asela Gunaratne- 4/5

The lower middle order batsman scored a match winning 80 in the 2nd essay which helped the visitors stroll towards a hard fought victory. Though they won by 4 wickets it wouldn’t have been possible without Gunaratne’s contribution.

Along with Dickwella he steadied the sinking Sri Lankan ship and played some delightful shots in the process. He remained unbeaten on 80 and struck the winning runs. Meanwhile, the part time spinner also bagged a couple of wickets in the 1st essay.

Dilruwan Perera- 4/5

The off-spinning all-rounder Dilruwan Perera had quite a productive match with the lower order batsman contributing with both bat and the ball. He bagged a solitary wicket in the 1st essay and looked good during his unbeaten 33 with the bat in hand. The offie bagged 3 crucial wickets in the 2nd essay to peg the visitors back and was eventually to there until the end with Gunaratne to see his side through.

Rangana Herath- 4.5/5

The veteran left-arm spinner was at his lethal best finishing with impressive match figures of 11/249 and was the wrecker-in-chief in the bowling department. He bagged 5 wicket hauls in both the innings and was instrumental in keeping Zimbabwe to a manageable score. Though he conceded more than 100 runs in both innings, his wicket taking abilities haven’t diminished a tad and will to continue his good work in the upcoming Test series against the No.1 ranked India.

Suranga Lakmal- 1/5

The nippy fast bowler went wicket less through out the match. He troubled the openers quite a few times but wasn’t able to get the much-needed breakthrough. He got some stick in the 2nd essay and failed to stamp his authority.

Lahiru Kumara- 2.5/5

The right arm medium pacer finished with 3 wickets in the Test. In the 1st essay, Kumara bagged a couple which included the prized scalp of Centurion Sean Williams. In the 2nd essay, he bagged a solitary wicket and supported Rangana Herath to a nicety.

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