Sri Lanka clinched the One-Day International series against Zimbabwe by winning the shortened third game by 5 runs on Monday after an improved performance from the struggling African team. Zimbabwe, chasing 171 in a match reduced to 28 overs per side due to rain, needed 10 runs from the last over but veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan killed off the home team's hopes by taking two wickets in the final six balls. He dismissed Stuart Matsikenyeri leg before wicket for 18 on the first ball of the 28th over and then - with Zimbabwe needing six runs for victory - had Tawanda Mupariwa stumped off the final delivery by Kumar Sangakkara at Harare Sports Club. Sri Lanka leads 3-0 in the five-match series. “I thought (171) was enough under the conditions,” Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said. “They had a good start when they chased, but I knew we had good bowlers who could attack and take wickets. We had no doubt about it. The good thing is that we were prepared for the task.” Sri Lanka struggled against the medium pace of Mupawira, who took 4-39, and Elton Chigumbura, who collected 3-37. Sangakkara top-scored with 57. In reply, Hamilton Masakadza played confidently to reach 77, dominating an opening stand of 76 before Vusi Sibanda was out for 25 after edging a ball from seamer Thilina Thushara in the 12th over. When captain Tatenda Taibu fell for 31, Zimbabwe needed just 20, but Muralitharan came back to strangle the run rate and he finished with 2-20 from six overs as the hosts finished on 166-7 to lose their ninth straight ODI. Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya praised the spin bowling of Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who accounted for Chigumbura (3) and Chamu Chibhabha (0). “We needed to get runs when the spinners came to bowl so we struggled to contain the pressure,” Utseya said. “It's a bit disappointing because on any other day we could have won. I think we showed character. We really wanted to fight for our supporters today and we tried.” During Sri Lanka's innings, Mupariwa dismissed Mahela Udawatte (1), Chamara Kapugedara (28), Jehan Mubarak (22) and Farveez Maharoof (14). Mupariwa had Udawatte out lbw for 1 in the fourth over of the innings before Chigumbura dismissed Tharanga, caught by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu for 26 to leave Sri Lanka on 41-2 in the ninth over. Jayawardene didn't last long, caught by Taibu off Chigumbura for 4 with 10 runs added to the total. Sangakkara then shared a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Kapugedara that had its moments of good fortune. Masakadza dropped Kapugedara in the outfield and the ball went for six when the batsman was on 10. In the same over, Kapugedara hit Mupariwa full length for the biggest six of the day. Kapugedara's luck ended in the 19th over when he missed a ball from Mupariwa and was stumped by Taibu for 28 to leave Sri Lanka on 94-4. Sangakkara then put on 55 with Jehan Mubarak, upping the tempo and taking the attack to the bowlers before he was caught by Stuart Matsikenyeri trying to clear cover. Sangakkara's 58-ball innings contained four boundaries. Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta said there won't be wholesale changes for the final two matches. “I'm still looking for a win,” Chawaguta said. “We will still use our strongest side in the last two matches in pursuit of that. There might be one or two youngsters to go with our strongest team. But the main focus is to try to get at least a win.”
