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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka hammer hapless Zimbabwe | Sri Lanka hammer hapless Zimbabwe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lanka all but qualified for the main stage of the Champions Trophy by thrashing Zimbabwe by 144 runs. | Sri Lanka all but qualified for the main stage of the Champions Trophy by thrashing Zimbabwe by 144 runs. |
| Upul Tharanga (110) hit a second ton in as many games and put on 165 with Kumar Sangakkara (80) in Sri Lanka's 285-7. | Upul Tharanga (110) hit a second ton in as many games and put on 165 with Kumar Sangakkara (80) in Sri Lanka's 285-7. |
| Lasith Malinga claimed 3-25 and Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan took two wickets as Zimbabwe mustered 141. | Lasith Malinga claimed 3-25 and Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan took two wickets as Zimbabwe mustered 141. |
| Only Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza (both 30) battled and if West Indies beat Bangladesh on Wednesday, they and Sri Lanka will go through. | Only Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza (both 30) battled and if West Indies beat Bangladesh on Wednesday, they and Sri Lanka will go through. |
| The only issue then will be who finishes top of qualifying and goes through to the supposedly weaker group containing New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. | The only issue then will be who finishes top of qualifying and goes through to the supposedly weaker group containing New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. |
| In truth, the outcome of this latest game in Ahmedabad was not in doubt once Tharanga fell back into the groove he found in hitting 105 against Bangladesh on Saturday. | In truth, the outcome of this latest game in Ahmedabad was not in doubt once Tharanga fell back into the groove he found in hitting 105 against Bangladesh on Saturday. |
| He punished width ruthlessly on the off-side with a succession of cuts and drives, smashing 13 fours and a good-length Tawanda Mupariwa delivery over long-off for six to record his fifth ODI century of the year. | |
| Zimbabwe were given hope when Sanath Jayasuriya was caught out by a superb piece of fielding from Elton Chigumbura and skipper Mahela Jayawardene chased a wide delivery from Anthony Ireland. | Zimbabwe were given hope when Sanath Jayasuriya was caught out by a superb piece of fielding from Elton Chigumbura and skipper Mahela Jayawardene chased a wide delivery from Anthony Ireland. |
| Malinga helped himself to three wickets as Zimbabwe crumbled | Malinga helped himself to three wickets as Zimbabwe crumbled |
| But Sangakkara, whose fourth run took him up to 5,000 runs in one-day internationals, and Tharanga launched a sustained assault to end any prospect of a shock. | But Sangakkara, whose fourth run took him up to 5,000 runs in one-day internationals, and Tharanga launched a sustained assault to end any prospect of a shock. |
| Tharanga produced a glorious cover drive to bring up the century partnership in 120 balls before Sangakkara lifted leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi elegantly over mid-wicket to bring up his fifty in 66 balls. | Tharanga produced a glorious cover drive to bring up the century partnership in 120 balls before Sangakkara lifted leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi elegantly over mid-wicket to bring up his fifty in 66 balls. |
| Both left-handers eventually tired and it was little surprise when Tharanga missed with an expansive drive off Stuart Matsikenyeri, and Sangakkara mistimed Justice Chibhabha straight to Matsikenyeri at long-off. | Both left-handers eventually tired and it was little surprise when Tharanga missed with an expansive drive off Stuart Matsikenyeri, and Sangakkara mistimed Justice Chibhabha straight to Matsikenyeri at long-off. |
| The scoring slowed in the last 12 overs as five wickets fell to reward the Zimbabweans' enthusiastic work in the field. | The scoring slowed in the last 12 overs as five wickets fell to reward the Zimbabweans' enthusiastic work in the field. |
| But the Africans repeated the mistakes they made in being skittled for 85 by the Windies, the top order soon back in the pavilion after loose drives. | But the Africans repeated the mistakes they made in being skittled for 85 by the Windies, the top order soon back in the pavilion after loose drives. |
| Piet Rinke inside-edged Perera's inswinger on to his stumps, while Tafadzwa Mufambisi and Justice Chibhabha gave catching practice to the slip fielders. | Piet Rinke inside-edged Perera's inswinger on to his stumps, while Tafadzwa Mufambisi and Justice Chibhabha gave catching practice to the slip fielders. |
| Taylor produced several delightful cover drives but was comprehensively bowled by a ball that Fernando jagged back, while Masakadza rode his luck before Maharoof's extra bounce surprised him. | Taylor produced several delightful cover drives but was comprehensively bowled by a ball that Fernando jagged back, while Masakadza rode his luck before Maharoof's extra bounce surprised him. |
| Things declined further when Chigumbura failed with a suicidal attempt at a second run and Stuart Matsikenyeri got into a hopeless tangle against a shorter ball from Fernando. | Things declined further when Chigumbura failed with a suicidal attempt at a second run and Stuart Matsikenyeri got into a hopeless tangle against a shorter ball from Fernando. |
| Utseya (20) and Mupariwa clung on to add 12 in 76 balls before Muralitharan's doosra accounted for the skipper and Ireland and the end was, mercifully, not long in coming. | Utseya (20) and Mupariwa clung on to add 12 in 76 balls before Muralitharan's doosra accounted for the skipper and Ireland and the end was, mercifully, not long in coming. |