CAPTAIN Upul Tharanga hit an unbeaten half century as Sri Lanka cruised to a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe to secure the tri-nation series title in Bulawayo.
Having restricted Zimbabwe to 160 all out, Sri Lanka calmly went about reaching their target, with Tharanga finishing things with a flourish as he followed a drive to the mid-wicket boundary with a huge straight six.
Sri Lanka’s spinners did much of the damage earlier in the day as Jeffrey Vandersay (3-50) and Sachith Pathirana (2-26) shared five wickets, while Asela Gunaratne (3-10) chipped in with three late wickets.

After a shaky start to their reply, the tourists recovered thanks to Kusal Mendis and Tharanga, both men going to 50 as Sri Lanka secured the win with 75 balls to spare.
Only Tarisai Musakanda (36), Sean Williams (35) and Craig Ervine (25) threatened with the bat for Zimbabwe after openers Hamilton Masakadza (10) and Peter Moor (1) had fallen inside five overs.
Ervine and Musakanda began their revival, but wickets fell at all too regular intervals as Sri Lanka’s bowlers enjoyed themselves, Zimbabwe guilty of a series of soft dismissals.
Reaching 160 was never going to be enough with Sri Lanka’s quality with the bat – and it proved so despite Brian Vitori (3-52) taking three early wickets to give them some hope.
At 42-3 there was a chink of light for Zimbabwe, but a 75-run partnership between Mendis and Tharanga laid the foundation for victory.

Mendis’ 72-ball 57 came to an end as Williams took a superb catch deep at square leg, but Sri Lanka were not to be denied as Gunaratne joined his captain at the crease to get them over the line.
Tharanga’s unbeaten 57 was far from the most fluent of innings, but he finished in style with his seventh boundary and only maximum of the innings.
“Full credit to the guys, they have done a really great job over the last two weeks,” said Tharanga.
“We knew we had to only get one good partnership. Mendis batted very well, and from there, it got easier and easier.
“Everybody has done a great job, we have found some new players as well who have put their hands up and performed well.” (Omnisport.com)

ZIMBABWE Innings
H. Masakadza lbw b N. Kulasekara 10
P. Moor c Pathirana b Lakmal 1
T. Musakanda c D. de Silva b Vandersay 36
C. Ervine c&b Vandersay 25
S. Raza lbw b Pathirana 5
S. Williams c D. de Silva b Gunaratne 35
M. Waller c&b Pathirana 14
G. Cremer c K. Mendis b Vandersay 9
D. Tiripano not out 10
T. Chisoro c Dickwella b Gunaratne 5
B. Vitori lbw b Gunaratne 0
Extras (lb-3 nb-1 w-6) 10
Total (all out, 36.3 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-8 P. Moor,2-19 H. Masakadza,3-72 C. Ervine,4-85 T. Musakanda,5-89 S. Raza,6-108 M. Waller,7-133 G. Cremer,8-155 S. Williams,9-160 T. Chisoro,10-160 B. Vitori
Bowling: N. Kulasekara 7 – 0 – 30 – 1(w-4), S. Lakmal 6 – 0 – 23 – 1(w-1),
S. Pathirana 7 – 0 – 26 – 2, D. Shanaka 2 – 0 – 18 – 0, J. Vandersay 10 – 0 – 50 – 3(nb-1 w-1),
A. Gunaratne 4.3 – 0 – 10 – 3.

SRI LANKA Innings
D. de Silva lbw b Vitori 0
K. Perera c Waller b Vitori 14
N. Dickwella b Vitori 16
K. Mendis c Williams b Cremer 57
U. Tharanga not out 57
A. Gunaratne not out 16
Extras (lb-2 w-4) 6
Total (for 4 wickets, 37.3 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-1 D. de Silva,2-29 N. Dickwella,3-42 K. Perera,4-117 K. Mendis
Did not bat: D. Shanaka, S. Pathirana, N. Kulasekara, J. Vandersay, S. Lakmal
Bowling: B. Vitori 9 – 0 – 52 – 3(w-1), D. Tiripano 2 – 0 – 14 – 0,
T. Chisoro 8 – 0 – 31 – 0(w-2), G. Cremer 10 – 2 – 32 – 1,
S. Williams 6 – 1 – 22 – 0(w-1), S. Raza 2.3 – 0 – 13 – 0