COLOMBO, Dec 22: Zimbabwean bowlers struggled after paceman Henry Olonga’s early double-strike in their only tour game ahead of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka here Saturday.
The tourists were thwarted by middle-order batsman Gayan Ramyakumara, who scored an unbeaten 103 to help the Sri Lankan Board team reach 269-4 at stumps on the penultimate day of a three-day match.
Zimbabwe, preparing for the opening Test starting here Thursday, had earlier declared their first innings closed at the overnight total of 319-6.
Ramyakumara put on 167 for the fourth wicket with Jeewan Mendis (79) after Olonga had taken two wickets in the morning session to reduce the hosts to 53-3.
Zimbabwe, who rested strike bowlers Heath Streak and Travis Friend, then had to wait for more than a session for their fourth wicket as Ramyakumara and Mendis batted steadily to neutralise the tourists’ early advantage.
The left-handed Ramyakumara, who hit 13 fours and two sixes in his fourth first-class century, also added 49 for the unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Prasanna Jayawardena (26).
Mendis, playing only his third first-class match, struck eight boundaries in his 198-ball knock before being caught by skipper Brian Murphy off medium-pacer Douglas Marillier in the last session.
The tourists began impressively as they grabbed three wickets in the first session, with Olonga taking two and Gary Brent one.
Olonga dismissed Ian Daniel (one) in his second over and then Chamara Silva (26), while Brent accounted for skipper Pradeep Hewage (20).
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings):
H. Masakadza c J’wardena b Fernando 10
T.R. Gripper retired hurt 101
S.V. Carlisle c Mendis b P’kumura 98
G.W. Flower c Silva b Fernando 2
A. Flower not out 51
G.J. Rennie c Daniel b Herath 19
C.B. Wishart st J’wardena b Herath 6
D.A. Marillier b Fernando 6
G.B. Brent not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-9, W-1, NB-13) 23
TOTAL (for six wkts, 90 overs) 319
FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-209, 3-244, 4-278,
5-284, 6-305.
DID NOT BAT: B.A. Murphy, H.K. Olonga.
BOWLING: Pushpakumura 19-4-62-1; Fernando 15-2-47-3 (1nb); Nissanka 12-2-54-0 (5nb); Herath 26-2-75-2 (1nb); Bandara 7-0-35-0 (4nb, 1w); Ramyakumara 5-1-25-0 (2nb); Mendis 6-2-12-0.
SRI LANKA BOARD XI (1st Innings):
R.P. Hewage c Rennie b Brent 20
G.I. Daniel b Olonga 1
L.P.C. Silva c G. Flower b Olonga 26
B.M.A.J. Mendis c Murphy b M’llier 79
W.M.G. Ramyakumara not out 103
H.A.P.W. Jayawardena not out 26
EXTRAS (LB-9, W-1, NB-4) 14
TOTAL (for four wkts, 93 overs) 269
FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-46, 3-53, 4-220.
TO BAT: C.M. Bandara, H.M.R.K.B. Herath, K.R. Pushpakumara, R.A.P. Nissanka, K.A.D.M. Fernando.
BOWLING (to-date): Olonga 20-6-52-2 (2nb); Brent 19-7-43-1; Murphy 23-5-71-0 (2nb, 1w); Marillier 13-1-47-1; Gripper
6-1-15-0; G.W. Flower 12-4-32-0.—AFP