Herald
10 June 2010
By Eddie Chikamhi
ZIMBABWE’S dream run in the Micromax Cup came to an end yesterday when they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the final of this Tri-Series tournament at Harare Sports Club.
Pre-match analysis of this final from experts had centred on the significance of winning the toss with the team that wins virtually guaranteed of victory.
And, as what has been the case in the matches in the series at Harare Sports Club, the big blow was dealt when Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura lost the toss.
As expected, Tillekeratne Dilshan sent Zimbabwe in to bat and, as expected, it was an uphill task for the hosts.
The Harare Sports Club wicket has been kind to the fielding team in the morning, offering assistance to both the seamers and the spinners and this was again the case yesterday.
Hamilton Masakadza, one of the key players in Zimba-bwe’s good run to the final, only scored four runs, his partner Brendan Taylor — the best batsman for the hosts in the series — appeared set for another big score but then fell to a stunning catch.
In the end, it was Tatenda Taibu who stood alone among the ruins and his superb effort, good enough to have contributed to a victory on another day, was an innings in a failed cause.
A masterly century from the tourists’ stand-in captain Tillekeratne Dilshan sealed the hosts’ fate after Zimbabwe put on a subdued batting performance earlier in the day.
Zimbabwe struggled to put runs on the board as they crashed to 199 all out in 49 overs.
Sri Lanka played with much intent and great sense of purpose and deserved the victory that made up for the eight-wicket defeat they suffered at the hands of Zimbabwe on Monday.
The victory earned them the winners’ trophy that was presented by the Minister of Education and Sports David Coltart and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura said he was not pleased by the result but praised the team for their commitment in the series.
“Sri Lanka bowled well and we just needed to apply ourselves. We had played some good cricket throughout the series and I think we have to reflect more on the tournament as a whole than to concentrate on today’s result alone,” said Chigumbura.
Opening batsman Taylor, who scooped the man-of-the- match award three times during the tournament, was rewarded with the man-of-the-series award sponsored by Royal Stag to the tune of US$3 000.
Taylor had been enjoying splendid form during the tournament, which saw him finishing as the second highest run scorer behind Dilshan.
“It’s very satisfying to get where we are. Unfortunately, we didn’t back it up in the final but we are pleased with how we have gone about it.
“Not just myself but others have done well. I am probably more relaxed in this series. Opening is new to me. I haven’t done it for a while. It’s nice to play with a good bunch of people,” said Taylor.
But Zimbabwe found the going tough from the start yesterday losing opener Masakadza for four runs in the fifth over, with only a paltry 11 runs to the team’s credit as the batsmen struggled with the Sri Lanka bowling led by Nuwan Kulasekera and Dilhara Fernando.
It was also a disappointing day for Taylor who could only manage 19 runs from 22 deliveries before he was caught by Thilan Samaraweera from a Fernando delivery, to leave Zimbabwe reeling with only 29 runs on the scoreboard.
The Zimbabwe batsmen just could not find their way and had to consume 166 balls to reach the 100 mark.
Former captain Taibu, who came in at number three, made a significant contribution with 71 runs and helped Zimbabwe lift their score from 49 to 139 in a key fourth wicket partnership with Greg Lamb (37).
The partnership hauled 90 runs before Taibu was caught at point by Chamara Kapugedera off the bowling of Fernando.
Zimbabwe lost wickets regularly from then on and the dismissal of Charles Coventry in the 43rd over ended any hopes of Zimbabwe scoring a respectable total past the 200 mark with a weak tail still to bat.
Chris Mpofu was the last man to go when he was run out as Zimbabwe tottered to 199 all out in 49 overs.
But there will be plenty of questions about Zimbabwe’s tacticsm especially their decision not to take the batting powerplay when Chigumbura, and then Coventry, came in to bat.
Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankans with three wickets for 36 runs in nine overs while Jeevan Mendis and Ajantha Mendis had two wickets apiece.
The Asians did not have to shed too much sweat in chase of the target as they raced to 203 for the loss of one wicket.
The only wicket to fall was that of Upul Tharanga who was dismissed in the 26th over when he was run out.
But the damage had already been done as they had plundered 160 runs for the first wicket with Dilshan, who was voted man of the match, leading from the front.
The Sri Lanka skipper punished the Zimbabwe bowlers in an innings that yielded an unbeaten 108 runs from the 102 balls he faced.
Dinesh Chandimal was unbeaten at 16.