Sri Lanka beats Zimbabwe

Thisara Perera.

Thisara Perera came up with stellar all-round performance as Sri Lanka stayed alive in the tri-nation one-day tournament, securing a five-wicket win against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Perera’s four for 33 wrapped up Zimbabwe innings for 198 before his fluent 26-ball 39 not out helped Sri Lanka race to 202 for five in 44.5 overs. He hit one four and three sixes, the last of which sealed the game.

Opener Kusal Perera was the highest scorer with 49 while captain Dinesh Chandimal was not out on 38.

Despite losing opener Upul Tharanga cheaply, Sri Lanka cruised to victory as Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis kept the side untroubled, rotating the strike intelligently.

The scores:

Zimbabwe 198 in 44 overs (Brendan Taylor 58, Graeme Cremer 34, Nuwan Pradeep three for 28, Thisara Perera four for 33) lost to Sri Lanka 202 for five in 44.5 overs (Kusal Perera 49, Kusal Mendis 36, Dinesh Chandimal 38 n.o, Thisara Perera 39 n.o, Blessing Muzarabani three for 52).