Dhananjaya guides Sri Lanka to resounding win
Dhananjaya de Silva’s unbeaten 78 ensured Sri Lanka had little trouble in chasing the 155 they needed for victory against Zimbabwe in Monday’s one-day international in Harare.
Sri Lanka were convincing 2-0 winners in the preceding Tests, and carried that momentum into the opening match of this tri-nation series, which also involves West Indies.
It was a second ODI half century and a new highest score for Dhananjaya, who was well supported by Niroshan Dickwella’s 41 as Sri Lanka romped home by eight wickets with more than half the overs to spare.
After crumbling to 50-6, Peter Moor (47) and skipper Graeme Cremer (31 not out) stopped the rot momentarily for the hosts, but a paltry 154 all out was never likely to be enough.
It was another damaging defeat for Zimbabwe who, having lost the toss, were immediately under pressure and found themselves four down inside 11 overs with no batsman reaching double figures.
Nuwan Pradeep (2-21) then accounted for Chamu Chibhabha (18) and Elton Chigumbura (1), before a stand of 55 between Moor and Cremer temporarily stemmed the flow of wickets.
Moor was the aggressor, striking four sixes in his knock before being trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara (2-23), and debutant Asela Gunaratne’s 3-21 mopped up the tail.
Dhananjaya wasted little time setting about the meagre target, reaching his fifty in 46 balls having lost opening partner Kusal Perera for 21.
Dickwella’s departure did little to arrest Dhananjaya’s momentum, his 75-ball innings containing 12 boundaries as Sri Lanka completed a dominant day’s work.
