Tour Match: Sri Lanka Board XI v Zimbabweans at Colombo, 21-23 Dec 2001 Charlie Austin |
Sri Lanka Board XI 2nd innings:
Zimbabweans 2nd innings: |
The tourists recovered from the early loss of both openers to score 169 for five thanks to a timely half-century from left-hander Gavin Rennie, who probably booked himself a berth in the final Test eleven after his137-ball 68.
The Board XI were thus left needing to score 220 runs in 43 overs to win the match. A tough target, but by no means an impossible one on a benign pitch that remains batsmen friendly
Grant Flower was dismissed second ball after lunch, without adding to his pre-lunch score, he pushed forward defensively to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and was caught at first slip (81 for four).
However, his brother, Andy, then gave Rennie good support with an unbeaten 26, as the pair added 65 for the fifth wicket.
Rennie, who hit eight fours in his innings, was eventually out when brilliantly caught by a diving Jeewan Mendis at backward point (146 for five).
Stuart Carlisle then played a quick cameo, hitting one four and a six, as he scored 19 from 28 balls before the declaration.
The Board XI declaration on 269 for four leaves open the possibility of a final innings run chase in the evening, but that depends on how much batting practice Zimbabwe want to have on their last outing before the first Test.
At lunch, Zimbabwe were 80 for three, having built a lead of 130, with Gavin Rennie playing well on 28 not out and Grant Flower on nine.
Hamilton Masakadza started his Sunday morning disastrously, as he shouldered arms first ball, to be trapped lbw by an inswinger from Ravi Pushpakumara.
Trevor Gripper was then caught behind for 10 as he flashed at a delivery from Prabath Nissanka, who has been called into the 14-man Test squad, to be caught behind (22 for two).
Zimbabwe the promoted Craig Wishart and Gavin Rennie, both of whom could be competing against each other for a place in the final Test eleven.
Wishart was dropped early on in slips by Ian Daniel but then went on to score 28, hitting three boundaries, before he was controversially adjudged lbw as he tried to sweep a delivery from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Daniel, fielding at short leg, was forced to leave the field five minutes before the luncheon interval after being painfully struck on the hip by the left-handed Rennie who was sweeping.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 23 Dec2001 - 19:44