At Harare, December 18. Sri Lanka won by six wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe.

Carlisle, for so long a fringe player batting at No. 7 or No. 8, where he had little chance of building an innings, seized the opportunity to bat first wicket down by hitting a maiden international hundred, off 138 balls with eight fours and four sixes. With Andy Flower adding a blistering 53 off 30 balls in a 131-run stand that took only 13 overs, Sri Lanka faced a difficult task. Despite taking two early wickets, though, the Zimbabwean bowlers were unable to deliver victory. Kaluwitharana and Jayawardene hit back against some undisciplined bowling, raising 100 in the 16th over as they put on 144 together. Kaluwitharana's powerful 99 came in 86 balls.

Man of the Match: S. V. Carlisle.