Rangana Herath became the third bowler in history to pick up five-wicket hauls against all nine other Test countries as Sri Lanka dominated proceedings on day three in Harare in the second Test match against Zimbabwe.
The stand-in Sri Lankan captain grabbed 5 for 89 – his maiden five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe to bowl out the hosts to 272 in the afternoon session. After opting not to enforce the follow-on, the tourists struggle due to some excellent, disciplined bowling by the Zimbabweans to reach 102 for 4 at stumps.
Dimuth Karunarathne battled his way towards the third 50+ score during the tour to ensure Sri Lanka stretch the lead to 334 with 6 wickets and 2 days remaining adding 89 runs in the final session.
Kaushal Silva flicked it straight to mid-wicket off Carl Mumba while Kusal Mendis made a 10-ball duck as he top-edged to mid-on off the same bowler. Upul Tharanga was caught plumb in front by Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer as the visitors were reeling at 44 for 3.
First-innings centurion, Dhananjaya De Silva patiently made 9 off 48 deliveries before chipping a full toss straight to extra-cover as Mumba picked up his 3rd wicket. Karunarathne caressed the off-side field for a couple of boundaries and helped the wayward deliveries down the leg-side to the fence during his unbeaten 119-ball 54.
Earlier, Zimbabwe resumed from their overnight score of 126 for 2 and seamer Suranga Lakmal had Craig Ervine caught at slip for 64 in the eighth over of the day. Having picked up both of the wickets to fall yesterday, Herath bowled a stunning, quicker delivery to castle well-set Brian Chari for a career-best 80 and then dismissed Malcolm Waller for 18 on the stroke of lunch as the Zimbabwean no.6 spooned it straight to Kaushal Silva at short extra-cover.
Right-arm off-spinner, Dilruwan Perera picked up for three wickets in quick succession. He trapped left-handed Sean Williams for 58, had Graeme Cremer caught at slip and then trapped Peter Moor plumb in front for 33 inside three overs.
Herath’s guile and wizardry worked once again as he trapped Carl Mumba right in front of the stumps to join fellow Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan and South Africa’s Dale Steyn among an elite group of bowlers with five-wicket hauls against all opponents.
Suranga Lakmal had Donald Tiripano, the final wicket of the hosts as their last five wickets succumbed for just 19 runs to give a 232-run first innings lead for the South Asian Islanders.
