SL v ZIM, One-off Test, Day 2 Review: Sri Lanka fight back; all square at the end of the day

Things are getting interesting with every passing day at the Premadasa Stadium as both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka refuse to give up. After a splendid batting display from Craig Ervine (160 off 256 balls) helped the Zimbabweans finish day 1 strongly, the second day began with a profuse bowling display from Sri Lanka which ensured they wrapped up Zimbabwe for 356, with just 12 runs added to the overnight score.

Rangana Herath provided a crucial breakthrough at the beginning of the day and sent back the tailender Donald Tirpano. In the very next over, Lahiru Kumara got the prized scalp of Ervine and Zimbabwe’s innings was done and dusted in the next 5 overs after the commencement of day 2.

Upul Tharanga shows no mercy

Sri Lanka raced off to a blazing start as Upul Tharanga (71 off 107 balls) decided to go after the Zimbabwean bowlers right from the outset. Dimuth Karunaratne (25 off 66 balls) was happy to stay at the other end and watch the drama unfold as the veteran took charge and spanked the new-ball bowlers all across the park.

Sri Lanka completed their 50 inside 12 overs and neither the spinners nor the speedsters had any answer. Desperation to get a wicket also made the visitors waste a review on Tharanga, soon after which he completed his 7th Test half-century. After adding 84 for the first wicket, Karunaratne failed to convert a good start into a big knock and gave away his wicket to Tiripano right after the Lunch break.

Kusal Mendis (11) didn’t stick on for long and 3 overs after his dismissal, a reckless way of dragging the bat into the crease saw Tharanga walked back to the gallery. The former skipper Angelo Mathews (41 off 104 balls) and current skipper Dinesh Chandimal (55 off 100 balls) took the onus upon themselves and carried the innings forward.

Some lackluster bowling from Zimbabwe allowed Chandimal to settle in and he ensured their counterparts paid for each and every mistake. Mathews took his time and got some vital runs as well and the duo batted the entire second session. Chandimal completed his fifty with a single off Sikander Raza.

Skipper Cremer pulls things back in Zimbabwe’s favor

Talk about the captain leading from the front, this is a good example of it. The hosts were on their way towards taking a gigantic lead and that’s when Cremer picked two crucial wickets inside 5 overs, which embarked a mini batting collapse.

Chandimal was the first one to go, who edged it to the slip fielder and 4 overs later, Niroshan Dickwella’s stumps were all over the place. Sean Williams, who had an off-day till then, got the big fish Mathews, who is an expert in saving sinking ships.

From 212/3 at the end of 60 overs, Sri Lanka found themselves at 238/6 after 70 overs. Attack is the best form of defense they say and someone must’ve whispered it in Dilruwan Perera’s ears before he walked out to the middle. He went after the spinners and piled up a couple of fours and sixes in the next few overs after Mathews departed.

Yet again, Sri Lanka were the tormentors of their own cause as Perera ran himself out in the worst possible way. He departed after scoring a quickfire 33 off 43 balls. Gunaratne then batted the remaining overs alongside Herath and Sri Lanka finished on 293/7 at stumps. With all three results still possible, day 3 will be crucial in deciding the outcome of this enthralling Test match.

Brief Scores

Zimbabwe: 356 all out in 94.4 overs(Ervine 160, Rangana Herath 5/116)

Sri Lanka: 293/7 in 83 overs(Tharanga 71, Chandimal 55, Cremer 3/100)