What a match! Zimbabwe were down and out at the end of the second ODI but they have given their critics a sound reply here by pushing Sri Lanka to the finish. Zimbabwe were the favourites to win this game after Masakadza and Sibanda gave them a superb start, and the 68-run partnership between Taibu and Masakdza had more or less sealed it for the home team. But timely breakthroughs by Mendis and Kulasekara gave Sri Lanka a sniff at pulling it back. Mendis proved expensive, and went for 11 in the penultimate over. With ten required off the final over, it was anybody's game, but Matsikenyeri's dismissal off the very first ball proved decisive and settled the game for Sri Lanka.
Hamilton Masakadza is the Man of the Match for his riveting 77. It almost proved match-winning.
Well that's all we have from here folks! Thanks for tuning in and lets hope the remaining games live up to the thrill and excitement of this one.
On behalf of everyone at Cricinfo, goodbye!
T Mupariwa st †Sangakkara b Muralidaran 0 (4m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
six needed off the last ball. Can he pull this one off?
Mupariwa, the new man
S Matsikenyeri lbw b Muralidaran 19 (18m 10b 1x4 1x6) SR: 190.00
10 to win off the last over
Thushara was first given the ball but Jayawardene changed his mind. Murali to bowl the last over
Zimbabwe's performances in the 5-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka have raised a number of issues, the most pressing being the role of Walter Chawaguta
Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, has denied that overconfidence of playing against weak opponents resulted in his disappointing form during the one-day series against Zimbabwe
A crazy debut, bonkers hitting, and a wacky collapse
Sri Lanka completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe with a 19-run victory in the fifth ODI, but, not for the first time in the last week, Zimbabwe threw away a gilt-edged chance of winning within sight of the finishing line
Cricinfo previews the fifth ODI between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in Harare
