Craig Ervine and Brian Chari slammed brisk half-tons to help Zimbabwe end day two of the second Test match on a high against Sri Lanka in Harare.
Earlier, the 30-year old right-handed middle order batsman, Asela Gunarathne smashed his maiden Test ton as Sri Lanka posted 504 in their first innings after the tourists began the day on 290 for 5.
In reply, hard-hitting Chari and left-handed Ervine remained identically on 60 not out and steered Zimbabwe to 126 for 2 at close of play after Sri Lanka’s 14th Test Rangana Herath struck twice in three balls.
Opening batsman Tino Mawoyo was struck plumb in front for while Hamilton Masakadza was caught at first slip for a two-ball duck as Herath restricted the hosts to 17 for 2. Since then, Chari and Ervine batted sensibly adding an unbroken 109 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Chari became the first Zimbabwean to hit his first ball of an innings for 6 as he played some fearless strokes, especially against Herath. The hosts are still behind by 378 and will look to capitalize on a flat deck in the heart of Zimbabwe.
Earlier, playing just his second Test, Gunaratne scored 116 to marshal the tail to good effect and frustrate the Zimbabwean bowlers, before his dismissal brought the end of the Sri Lankan innings on the stroke of tea.
Centurion, Dhananjaya de Silva added only 27 runs to his overnight score of 100 before he chipped straight back to skipper Graeme Cremer. Dilruwan Perera contributed with a quick-fire 34 as the visitors made 124 runs in 32 overs in the first session.
After lunch, the right-handed batsman from Sri Lanka Army Sports Club increased his rate of scoring further in a 75-run stand for the eighth wicket with Herath, who made 27.
Seamer Donald Tiripano had Herath caught behind and then bowled Suranga Lakmal, but last man, Lahiru Kumara held on long enough for Gunaratne to reach three figures and carry the score past 500.
It was the fifth straight Test match in which Zimbabwe, who trail 1-0 in the two-match series, had conceded 500 runs in an innings.
