30/11Result
5th ODI, Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe at Harare, Nov 30 2008
Sri Lanka won by 19 runs
Player of the Match
Muthiah MuralidaranSri Lanka
30/11Result
5th ODI, Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe at Harare, Nov 30 2008
Sri Lanka won by 19 runs
Player of the Match
Muthiah MuralidaranSri Lanka

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!

43.6
W
Muralidaran to Price, OUT, gone! Murali takes five, his 10th five-wicket haul, that was quicker through the air, pitched on a good length outside off and spun in sharply, Price came forward to defend but failed to make contact, was struck on the pads and in line with middle and the umpire didn't take too long to raise his finger

RW Price lbw b Muralidaran 3 (19m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 21.42

43.5
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, doosra, bowled outside off from round the wicket, Price didn't pick it
43.4
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, tossed up on the off stump, defended on the off side

A slip and a forward short leg in place

43.3
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, short outside off, going the other way, guided to short third man
43.2
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, flighted on the off stump, defended yet again
43.1
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, flighted on the off stump, defended to the leg side

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

42.6
W
Kulasekara to Mupariwa, OUT, gone! full toss on middle, tries to drive it wide of mid-on, gets a leading edge straight to mid-off where Mendis takes a comfortable catch

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.

42.5
W
Kulasekara to Utseya, OUT, gone! good length on the off stump and angling in towards middle, gets forward to defend, misses, and is struck in line with middle and off, that looked out and the umpire had no doubt

P Utseya lbw b Kulasekara 31 (124m 99b 0x4 0x6) SR: 31.31

42.4
0
Kulasekara to Utseya, no run, yorker on the off stump, gets his bat down just in time to dig it out to the off side
42.3
1
Kulasekara to Price, 1 run, short outside off, pulled away to deep square leg
42.2
0
Kulasekara to Price, no run, full toss on middle, driven back firmly onto the stumps at the non-strikers end, a touch unfortunate there, he timed that really well
42.1
0
Kulasekara to Price, no run, good length outside off, defended off the front foot

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
41.6
0
Muralidaran to Utseya, no run, doosra, that pitched on middle and spun away, didn't pick it, was beaten as the ball spun away from him
41.5
0
Muralidaran to Utseya, no run, flat on middle and leg, turned to short fine leg
41.4
0
Muralidaran to Utseya, no run, short outside off, pushed to point
41.3
0
Muralidaran to Utseya, no run, flighted outside off, defended on the front foot
41.2
1
Muralidaran to Price, 1 run, flighted outside off, driven towards extra cover for a single. Price is off strike now
41.1
0
Muralidaran to Price, no run, flat outside off, defended on the front foot

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
40.6
0
Kulasekara to Utseya, no run, slower ball bowled short outside off, tries to pull it away towards square leg, misses

Utseya, the key man now.

40.5
1
Kulasekara to Price, 1 run, good length outside off, run down to third man for a single
40.4
0
Kulasekara to Price, no run, good length on the off stump, defended on the front foot
40.3
0
Kulasekara to Price, no run, full on the off stump, gets behind it and drives it to mid-on

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

40.2
W
Kulasekara to Dabengwa, OUT, bowled 'im! what a timely wicket! that was short on the off stump, kept a touch low, makes room and tries to guide that one down to third man, fails to get his bat down in time and the ball crashes into the off stump.

KM Dabengwa b Kulasekara 39 (126m 91b 1x4 1x6) SR: 42.85

40.1
0
Kulasekara to Dabengwa, no run, slower ball bowled short outside off, left alone by Dabengwa

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
39.6
0
Fernando to Utseya, no run, yorker on middle and leg, dug out comfortably

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st23H MasakadzaV Sibanda
2nd2T TaibuH Masakadza
3rd2T TaibuCJ Chibhabha
4th13T TaibuS Matsikenyeri
5th9T TaibuE Chigumbura
6th9T TaibuKM Dabengwa
7th72KM DabengwaP Utseya
8th3RW PriceP Utseya
9th0RW PriceT Mupariwa
10th0RW PriceEC Rainsford