HARARE, April 27: Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Chandana scored contrasting half-centuries to set up Sri Lanka's comfortable 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth One-day International on Tuesday.
Sangakkara scored a patient 63 and Chandana a fluent 51 in Sri Lanka's total of 223 for nine before the depleted hosts were dismissed for 151 in 43.4 overs to put Sri Lanka 4-0 up in the five-match series.
Wicket-keeper Sangakkara faced 100 balls and hit seven fours, also shining in the field as he featured in five dismissals, including a direct hit to run out Prosper Utseya. Zimbabwe captain and wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu also had an impressive day behind the stumps, running out Chandana and Farveez Maharoof with direct hits and taking a neat legside catch off medium pacer Mluleki Nkala to remove Tillekeratne Dilshan.
Taibu also took a more conventional catch to dismiss debutant Thilina Kandamby off Nkala. The visitors struggled to keep up the scoring rate against Zimbabwe's disciplined bowlers on a slow pitch.
Sangakarra, who collected most of his runs square of the wicket, was Sri Lanka's rock until the 33rd over when he drove uppishly at a delivery from Nkala and was caught at cover by Alester Maragwede.
Sangakarra's most valuable support came from Mahela Jayawardene, captaining the team in place of the rested Marvan Atapattu, who scored 26 in a second-wicket partnership of 63. The stand was ended in the 25th over when Jayawardene was bowled by a slow leg-cutter from debutant medium pacer Tawanda Mupariwa.
Chandana kept the score moving until three balls before the end of the innings, when he strayed out of his crease and was run out by Taibu's underarm throw. Nkala took three for 50 from his 10 overs.
The home side's reply was devoid of urgency, with number four Dion Ebrahim labouring 92 deliveries for his top score of 50 not out. Brendan Taylor helped Ebrahim put on 43 for the third wicket before he was stumped by Sangakkara for 38 off a sharply turning Chandana leg-break in the 19th over.
Ebrahim received scant support from the rest of his team mates, the only other double figure scores coming from Taibu (12) and Maregwede (18). Zimbabwe were forced to select an inexperienced squad for the series after 15 players refused to play in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The final match is at the same venue on Thursday.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
S. Jayantha c Chigumbura b Mupariwa 23
K.C. Sangakkara c Maragwede b Nkala 63
D.P.M. Jayawardene b Mupariwa 26
R.P. Arnold run out 7
T.M. Dilshan c Taibu b Nkala 18
T.H. Kandamby c Taibu b Nkala 0
U.D.U. Chandana run out 51
M.F. Maharoof run out 19
H.M.R.K.B. Herath not out 0
C.R.D. Fernando b Panyangara 0
N. Kulasekara not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-14) 16
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 223
FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-106, 3-118, 4-137, 5-137, 6-177, 7-220, 8-222, 9-222.
