AFP
Dhaka
Thisara Perera starred with bat and ball as Sri Lanka ended their recent dismal run by beating Zimbabwe by five wickets in the tri-nation One-Day International tournament in Dhaka on Sunday.
Perera claimed four wickets to lead an inspired Sri Lankan bowling attack that limited Zimbabwe to 198 all out before his unbeaten 39 helped the islanders to chase down their target in 44.5 overs.
Sri Lanka were in trouble at 145-5 before skipper Dinesh Chandimal (38 not out) and Perera put on an unbeaten 57-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Left-hander Perera sealed the win with a six to keep Sri Lanka's tournament hopes alive after they lost against Zimbabwe and hosts Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe paceman Blessing Muzarabani claimed three wickets after opener Kusal Perera's dominating 49. But the day belonged to Thisara Perera, who soon took the attack to the opposition with his 26-ball knock that was laced with a four and 3 sixes.
Chandimal, leading the side in place of injured Angelo Mathews, played the sheet anchor's role to perfection during his 71-ball stay.
Earlier Perera ran through the Zimbabwe top-order, grabbing the most vital wicket of Brendan Taylor, who top-scored with 58 before his side were bowled out in 44 overs.
The win kept Sri Lanka in the hunt for a spot in the final as they still have a game in hand against Bangladesh. Zimbabwe, who beat Sri Lanka by 12 runs in their first match, also can qualify for the final if they beat hosts on Tuesday.
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe
H. Masakadza c Tharanga b T. Perera 20
S. Mire c Dickwella b T. Perera 21
C. Ervine c Tharanga b T. Perera 2
B. Taylor c Tharanga b T. Perera 58
S. Raza c Mendis b Sandakan 9
M. Waller c Dickwella b Sandakan 24
P. Moor run out (Mendis/Dickwella) 0
G. Cremer b Pradeep 34
K. Jarvis b Pradeep 5
T. Chatara not out 2
B. Muzarabani b Pradeep 0
Extras: (lb8, w15) 23
Total: (All out; 44 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Masakadza), 2-49 (Ervine), 3-56 (Mire), 4-73(Raza), 5-139 (Waller), 6-140 (Moor), 7-171 (Taylor), 8-191 (Jarvis), 9-198 (Cremer), 10-198 (Muzarabani).
Bowling: Lakmal 7-0-23-0, Pradeep 8-2-28-3 (w6), T. Perera 8-0-33-4 (w2), Dananjaya 10-0-45-0 (w2), Sandakan 10-0-57-2 (w5), Gunaratne 1-0-4-0.
Sri Lanka (target 199)
K. Perera c Sub b Muzarabani 49
U. Tharanga b Chatara 17
K. Mendis b Muzarabani 36
N. Dickwella c Sub b Muzarabani 7
D. Chandimal not out 38
A. Gunaratne c sub b Jarvis 9
T. Perera not out 39
Extras: (lb3, w3, nb1) 7
Total: (For 5 wickets; 44.5 overs) 202
Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Tharanga), 2-103 (K. Perera), 3-110 (Mendis), 4-117 (Dickwella), 5-145 (Gunaratne).
Bowling: Jarvis 9-0-34-1 (w2), Chatara 9.5-1-40-1 (w1), Muzarabani 10-0-52-3 (nb1), Raza 7-0-44-0, Cremer 9-0-29-0. Toss: Zimbabwe.
Result: Sri Lanka won by five wickets.
Man of the Match: T. Perera.