Craig Ervine made a valiant ton at the R Premadasa as the Zimbabweans finished with 344/8, their highest ever total in a single day’s play in the only Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The left hander started his innings off slow but cut loose after the lunch break taking Dilruwan Perera for 11 runs in the 36th over. At no point did the left hander look troubled at the crease during his knock of 151 not out sweeping and reverse sweeping the spinners with ease.
Earlier in the day, things looked like they would go in Sri Lanka’s favour as the hosts managed 4 wickets in the 1st session of the game, aided by the pitch which produced some quick spin for both Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. Zimbabwe lost Hamilton Masakadza, Regis Chakabva and Sean Williams to the pair of spinner in the pre-lunch session, while Lahiru Kumara picked up debutant Tarisai Musakanda to leave the visitors on 94/4 at the break.
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A change of fortunes came about with the arrival of Sikandar Raza, who looked busy at the crease, seemingly picking up from where he left off in the 5th ODI earlier this week. Raza and Ervine began the Zimbabwean resurgence, putting on 84 runs for the 5th wicket before Herath trapped Raza right in front for 36. The batsman reviewed the decision but the replays showed the ball hitting the pad before the bat and therefore the on-field decision stood.
Peter Moor joined Ervine at the crease and pair looked to exceedingly at ease in the middle before Moor holed out to long on off the bowling of Asela Gunaratne, just 15 minutes from Tea. Until then it was looking like Zimbabwe’s session and despite losing two wickets, they would be happy with the 117 runs they managed.
Zimbabwe no doubt will be happy with their decision to play 8 batsmen as Malcolm Waller walked into the game and made a brick 36 off 38 deliveries. Yet again it was not that the bowling was particularly poor but that the visitors managed to maneuver the field to their advantage during much of the game.
Waller fell to a straight delivery by Herath as the Zimbabweans fell to 260/7. Ervine continued at the other end though bringing out the sweeps regularly to upset the length of the bowlers.
Graeme Crème did not last long at the crease as Asela Gunaratne, who is proving more than handy with the ball, bowled him with a delivery floated up to the batsman.
At 8 wickets down, the innings seemed done and dusted but Donald Tiripano proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the hosts, supporting Ervine as the pair looked to close out the day without further damage. The put the sweeps and reverse sweeps to good use as they had done in the ODIs and the hosts seemingly had no answers.
Ervine soon had his 150 and highest score in Tests as a disappointing day for Sri Lanka came to a close.
