by Dhammika Ratnaweera
Gayan Wijekoon hit an unbeaten 61 with seven fours and a six, to guide Sri Lanka ‘A’ to a four wicket victory over Zimbabwe, in a warm up one day cricket fixture, at Police Park, on Monday.

Wijekoon figured in an unbroken 62 run seventh wicket stand with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, who scored 30.

This was the second concecutive defeat for Zimbabwe on their tour of Sri Lanka, after having lost the first warm up one day game against a Board X1 at the De Soyza Stadium Moratuwa, last Saturday .

Earlier Zimbabwe, put in to bat, made 196 for eight wickets in their alloted 50 overs.

Openers Grant Flower (7) and Dion Ebrahim (5) were unable to provide a good start, with Sri Lanka ‘A’ pace duo of Dulip Liyanage and Charitha Buddika combining to earn an early breakthrough.

Skipper Stuart Carlilse, who scored 27 with two fours, was out caught by Lanka de Silva off Suresh Perera.

Nineteen-year-old Tatendre Taibu, coming to the wicket at number six, made a fine 42 with three fours. Heath Streak, who scored 34 with three fours, added 72 runs for the sixth wicket with Taibu to boost the total.

Sri Lankan spinners Sajeewa Weerakoon and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara bowled a tidy spell to keep the visitors in check. Paceman Dulip Liyanage and Suresh Perera claimed two wickets each.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ were given a fine start by openers, Skipper Avishka Gunawardena and Ian Daniel, who put on 64 runs.

Gunawardena, the left hander, made an explosive 36 while Daniel chipped in with 26. Paceman Travis Friend, in his second spell did most of the damage taking two wickets. This reduced Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 136 for six by the 37 over. However, Wijekoon, who reached his 50 with six fours and a six, made a match winning contribution to help his side reach the winning target with 3.4 overs to spare.

Travis Friend finished with 3 for 33 while Henry Olanga and Grant Flower took one wicket each for Zimbabwe.

This was the last warm up game for Zimbabwe before the triangular series, which will commence on December 8, when Zimbabwe meet Sri Lanka at the SSC grounds.

 SCORE BOARD

Zimbabwe

Grant Flower c Dilshan b Liyanage 07

Dion Ebrahim c Dilshan b Buddhika 05

Stuart Carlisle c Wijekoon b Perera 27

Andy Flower c Lanka b. Wijekoon 08

Craig Wishart b Perera 11

Tatendre Taibu lbw Liyanage 42

Heath Streak run out 34

Trevor Gripper not out 28

Travis Friend run out 06

Gary Brent not out 12

Extras ( lb-2, nb-3, w-11) 16

Total (for 8 wickets in 50 overs) 196

Did not bat (Henry Olonga)

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-17, 3-36, 4-61, 5-74, 6-146, 7-154, 8-166.

Bowling: Dulip Liyanage 10-0-33-2, Charitha Buddhika 6-0-37-1, Gayan Wijekoon 9-1-29-1, Suresh Perera 5-0-30-2, Sajeewa Weerakoon 10-1-32-0, M. Pushpakumara 10-0-33-0.

Sri Lanka ‘A’

Avishka Gunawardane c Olanga b Friend 36

Ian Daniel c A. Flower b Olonga 26

Gayan Wijekoon not out 61

T. M.Dilshan c Carlisle b G. Flower 18

Lanka de Silva c A. Flower b Taibu 04

Chamara Silva c A. Flower b Friend 07

Suresh Perera c Gripper b Friend 00

M. Pushpakumara not out 30

Extras (lb-8, b-1, nb-1, w-6) 16

Total (for six wickets in 46.2 overs) 198

Did not bat — Dulip Liyanage,

Sajeewa Weerakoon, Charitha Buddhika.

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-74, 3-110, 4-115, 5-135, 6-136.

Bowling: Heath Streak 8-1-39-0, Travis Friend 10-0-33-3, Henry Olonga 9-1-51-1, Grant Flower 10-1-34-1, Tatendra Taibu 4.4-0-11-1, Craig Wishart 1.2-0-3-0, Trevor Gripper 3.2-0-15-0.