Zimbabwe eye final push

[1]

Giant-killers Zimbabwe will hope to cap their fairytale campaign with another win while revenge will be high on Sri Lanka’s agenda in the final of the tri-series here on Wednesday.

Even though both India and Sri Lanka sent second-string squads for the low-profile tournament, few expected Zimbabwe to emerge as the table-toppers with 13 points in their kitty.
The minnows twice beat India — both times by comprehensive margins. As if to prove it was no fluke, they thumped Sri Lanka in Monday’s dead rubber as well to finish their league campaign with three victories from four outings.
The key to their fortunes has been opener Brendan Taylor’s sensational form that has already earned the opener three Man of the Match awards. Taylor has been the best batsman in the tournament so far with 276 runs from four matches at an average of 92 and strike-rate of 82.3.
Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu and Charles Coventry have been equally impressive and they will put their best foot forward on Wednesday in their effort to lift their first major title.
The bowling has been a revelation as well, especially spin. The likes of Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer have not only been accurate but also aggressive and the spirited support they got from the fielders has made them all the more lethal.
On Monday, Sri Lanka threatened to run away with the game when Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga added 122 runs in the first 20 overs. Utseya’s double strike then derailed the Lankans and Zimbabwe eventually bowled them out for 236 inside 48 overs.
The Lankans, however, will do everything on Wednesday to prevent a repeat. Skipper Dilshan will particularly expect Dinesh Chandimal, who scored his maiden ODI century against India the other day, to come good and underline his talent with another significant knock.
In the bowling department, the onus will be on Thilan Thushara and Dilhara Fernando to provide the early breakthroughs and keep the free-flowing Taylor in check. — PTI
Teams (from):
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Thissira Perera.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Andy Blignaut, Chamu Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Greg Lamb, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Ed Rainsford, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya.