Sparkling Chigumbura cannot save Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka 195 for 6 (Atapattu 43, Jayantha 36, Chigumbura 3-27) beat Zimbabwe 191 (Chigumbura 57, Zoysa 3-19, Maharoof 3-38) by 4 wickets
Scorecard

Sri Lanka made hard work of their four-wicket defeat of unfancied Zimbabwe as they successfully, if not entirely convincingly, chased a handy total of 191. The 18-year-old Elton Chigumbura shone for Zimbabwe with a sparkling allround performance, but his fine 57 and three-wicket haul were not quite enough to upset the form-book as Sri Lanka edged to victory at a chilly Oval.

Early on it had seemed like business as usual for Sri Lanka as they reduced Zimbabwe to 85 for 6. But a strong rearguard action, spearheaded by Man-of-the-Match Chigumbura's defiant innings, dragged Zimbabwe's final total into the realms of respectability.

Brendan Taylor and Stuart Matsikenyeri made a muted but settled start to Zimbabwe's innings. But a watchful Matsikenyeri fell to Zoysa for 16, as he found the outstretched glove of Kumar Sangakkara, the wicketkeeper (23 for 1).

Upul Chandana literally had a hand in two dismissals, scooping up two catches - a screamer at the third attempt at backward point to dismiss Taylor for 13 (43 for 2), and then another despatched Dion Ebrahim back to the pavilion for just 4 to send Zimbabwe reeling (61 for 4). Sangakkara's neat glovework, meanwhile, put paid to both Mark Vermeulen and Tatenda Taibu, leaving Zimbabwe with much to do (85 for 6).

But Chigumbura answered the challenge, his massive attack including some meaty, forceful on-side shots to push Sri Lanka onto the defensive.

Zoysa extracted Tinashe Panyangara, his third wicket of the day and his 100th in ODIs. Chigumbura was then joined by Prosper Utseya, and between them they accelerated the run rate to nearly four an over before Utseya holed out with a sliced lofted drive off a tempting Chandana delivery (184 for 8). Two balls later, Chandana finally trapped Chigumbura lbw - and the innings was wrapped up shortly afterwards for 191, better than Taibu must have feared after the early setbacks.

Sri Lanka's reply got off to the worst possible start as they lost two quick wickets for 10 runs. Avishka Gunawardene was snapped up by Vermeulen at second slip in the first over, as he edged a flashing drive (4 for 1). And only six runs later when Sanath Jayasuriya slashed at one from Douglas Hondo which was short of a good length, and the catch was snatched by Taibu behind the stumps (10 for 2).

But the Sri Lankans recovered, led at first by Saman Jayantha, whose entertaining 36 included three majestic fours in one over off Panyangara - one smashed to cover, one to the fine-leg fence, and one back past the bowler with a fluid straight-drive. Jayantha perished when the batting hero Chigumbura - brought on by Taibu to stem the assault - tempted him with a slower one and Zimbabwe proved they could match Sri Lanka's earlier excellent fielding as Ebrahim held on to the resultant rocket.

Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu set about consolidating, and did so at a decent rate, although Atapattu was struggling to time his drives. But Sangakkara's bright innings came to a drab end on 28, as he helped a gentle delivery from Vusi Sibanda to Chigumbura at gully, which set off warning bells for Sri Lanka (99 for 4).

At last, after five mismatches, something of a contest in the Champions Trophy. But class will out in the end: Atapattu went on to top-score with a steady 43 from 80 balls, before Chigumbura forced him to edge one behind to Taibu. And Mahela Jayawardene added 28 before he too fell to the inevitable Chigumbura to leave Sri Lanka wobbling at 162 for 6. Up stepped Chandana and Tillakaratne Dilshan to ensure the win.

This is the closest match the new-look Zimbabwe have been involved in since the dispute with several of their leading players decimated the team, and they can be rightly pleased with their efforts. Sri Lanka, however, were not entirely convincing ahead of their final pool match against England at the Rose Bowl on Friday.