END OF OVER:44 | (wicket maiden) | ZIM: 133/10 (20 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 3.02, RRR: 3.33)
- Ed Rainsford0 (0b)
- Muthiah Muralidaran10-2-29-5
- Nuwan Kulasekara9-2-14-3
Sri Lanka claim the series 5-0, but the series was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests. Zimbabwe were completely outplayed in the first two games, but failed to build on a winning position of 134 for 1 in the third, where they fell short by just five runs. They gave the visitors a run for their money in the fourth game as well, losing by just two wickets. They looked down and out at 58 for 6, but Utseya and Dabengwa added 72 for the seventh wicket to take Zimbabwe within 23 runs of victory. Kulasekara, though, struck back with two quick wickets against the run of play to snatch the game from the hosts.
Zimbabwe will be ruing not being able to finish off games after getting into a winning position. They lost their last four wickets for three runs.
Prosper Utseya: "We competed very well but are disappointed to have failed to finish it off in the last three games."
Mahela Jayawardene: "We knew these matches were not going to be high scoring but our bowlers delivered when we needed it the most. We are a little disappointed with our batting over the last two matches and probably fell about 3- to 40 runs short today. However, we came back splendidly to win this one."
Mutthiah Muralitharan is the Man of the Match for his 5 for 29.
Ajantha Mendis is the Man of the Series for his 15 wickets in five games.
Well, that's all we have from here folks, Thanks for tuning into out coverage for all these five games. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action and we appreciate you e-mailing us your comments. On behalf of everyone here at Cricinfo, goodbye!
RW Price lbw b Muralidaran 3 (19m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 21.42
A slip and a forward short leg in place
20 needed off 42 with just one wicket left. Zimbabwe have now taken their batting powerplay. Murali to bowl and Rainsford is the new batsman
END OF OVER:43 | 1 Run 2 Wkts | ZIM: 133/9 (20 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 3.09, RRR: 2.85)
- Ray Price3 (8b)
- Nuwan Kulasekara9-2-14-3
- Muthiah Muralidaran9-1-29-4
Zimbabwe have squandered yet another winning position here
T Mupariwa c Mendis b Kulasekara 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Could that be the decisive blow? Kulasekara has bowled superbly in this spell, removing the two batsmen who had resisted the Sri Lankan bowling so well to take their team on the verge on the upset.
P Utseya lbw b Kulasekara 31 (124m 99b 0x4 0x6) SR: 31.31
END OF OVER:42 | 1 Run | ZIM: 132/7 (21 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 3.14, RRR: 2.62)
- Prosper Utseya31 (97b)
- Ray Price2 (5b)
- Muthiah Muralidaran9-1-29-4
- Nuwan Kulasekara8-2-13-1
Murali back into the attack. He's got two more overs left. A slip and a silly point in place
END OF OVER:41 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | ZIM: 131/7 (22 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 3.19, RRR: 2.44)
- Prosper Utseya31 (93b)
- Ray Price1 (3b)
- Nuwan Kulasekara8-2-13-1
- Dilhara Fernando9-0-33-2
Utseya, the key man now.
Ray Price comes in to bat
Kulasekara strikes at the right time. Dabengwa departs after a fighting 39. Sri Lanka are well and truly back in this, and perhaps have the edge with the tail exposed to the spin of Murali and Mendis
KM Dabengwa b Kulasekara 39 (126m 91b 1x4 1x6) SR: 42.85
Zimbabwe are yet to take the third powerplay.
Kulasekara back into the attack
END OF OVER:40 | 1 Run | ZIM: 130/6 (23 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 3.25, RRR: 2.30)
- Prosper Utseya31 (92b)
- Keith Dabengwa39 (89b)
- Dilhara Fernando9-0-33-2
- Ajantha Mendis9-0-23-0