Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka won by 5 runs

Over28

4 runs, 2 wickets

ZIM 166/7CRR: 5.92

SC Williams 2 (3b)

M Muralidaran2/20 (6)

What a match! Zimbabwe were down and out at the end of the second ODI but they have given their critics a sound reply here by pushing Sri Lanka to the finish. Zimbabwe were the favourites to win this game after Masakadza and Sibanda gave them a superb start, and the 68-run partnership between Taibu and Masakdza had more or less sealed it for the home team. But timely breakthroughs by Mendis and Kulasekara gave Sri Lanka a sniff at pulling it back. Mendis proved expensive, and went for 11 in the penultimate over. With ten required off the final over, it was anybody's game, but Matsikenyeri's dismissal off the very first ball proved decisive and settled the game for Sri Lanka.

Hamilton Masakadza is the Man of the Match for his riveting 77. It almost proved match-winning.

Well that's all we have from here folks! Thanks for tuning in and lets hope the remaining games live up to the thrill and excitement of this one.

On behalf of everyone at Cricinfo, goodbye!

27.6

Murali to Mupariwa, OUT

gone!! so near, yet so far! charges down the track but misses a straight ball, Sangakkara fumbles it the first time but recovers well to take down the stumps. It's referred to the third umpire and the batsman is short of his ground. Sri Lanka have won a thriller, by just five runs!

Tawanda Mupariwa st †Sangakkara b Muralidaran 0 (3b 0x4 0x6 4m) SR: 0

six needed off the last ball. Can he pull this one off?

27.5

Murali to Williams, 1 run

tucked off the pads towards the leg side for a single

27.4

1lb

Murali to Mupariwa, 1 leg bye

swing and miss, legbye taken towards short extra cover

27.3

Murali to Williams, 1 run

reverse swept to backward point for a single

27.2

1lb

Murali to Mupariwa, 1 leg bye

tries to sweep, gets a leg bye to short fine leg

Mupariwa, the new man

27.1

Murali to Stuart, OUT

gone!! he was struck in line with middle stump, no doubts there, the umpire raises his finger and there is dead silence around the ground

Stuart Matsikenyeri lbw b Muralidaran 19 (10b 1x4 1x6 18m) SR: 190

10 to win off the last over

Thushara was first given the ball but Jayawardene changed his mind. Murali to bowl the last over

Over27

11 runs, 1 wicket

ZIM 162/5CRR: 6.00 RRR: 10.00

SC Williams 0 (1b)S Matsikenyeri 19 (9b 1x4 1x6)

BAW Mendis2/36 (6)

26.6

•

Mendis to Williams, no run

tries to sweep Mendis off his first ball, misses, and Sangakkara collects well, no run

Sean Williams comes in

26.5

Mendis to Chibhabha, OUT

bowled im!! Chibhabha went for a big sweep, missed it completely, and the ball crashed into middle and off stump

Chamu Chibhabha b Mendis 0 (2b 0x4 0x6 5m) SR: 0

26.4

•

Mendis to Chibhabha, no run

spun in, played down, no run

26.3

Mendis to Stuart, 1 run

played down the ground for a quick single

26.2

Mendis to Stuart, FOUR runs

short outside off, cut away for a boundary. Is this over now!!

26.1

Mendis to Stuart, SIX runs

good length on middle, slog-swept over deep mid wicket for a flat six

21 needed off 12. Matsinkenyeri the key man now. Kulasekara removed Taibu just at the right time. The gutsy wicketkeeper played superbly for his 31

Over26

7 runs, 1 wicket

ZIM 151/4CRR: 5.80 RRR: 10.50

S Matsikenyeri 8 (6b)

KMDN Kulasekara1/35 (6)

25.6

Kulasekara to Taibu, OUT

gone!! slower ball bowled full on middle, tries to swing it away towards mid wicket, misses, and the stumps take a beating

Tatenda Taibu b Kulasekara 31 (38b 1x4 0x6 55m) SR: 81.57

25.5

Kulasekara to Stuart, 1 run

full toss, played towards mid wicket for a single

25.4

Kulasekara to Stuart, 2 runs

driven down the ground, a misfield allows them two runs. Zimbabwe on the verge of pulling off a miracle here

25.3

Kulasekara to Taibu, 1 run

worked away off the back foot towards short fine leg for a single

25.2

•

Kulasekara to Taibu, no run

slower ball outside off, big swing, missed

25.1

Kulasekara to Stuart, 3 runs

shot! driven wide of deep extra cover on the front foot for three runs

28 needed off 18

Kulasekara to bowl

Over25

3 runs, 1 wicket

ZIM 144/3CRR: 5.76 RRR: 9.33

S Matsikenyeri 2 (3b)T Taibu 30 (35b 1x4)

BAW Mendis1/25 (5)

24.6

Mendis to Stuart, 1 run

24.5

Mendis to Taibu, 1 run

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI at Harare, Nov 24 2008 - Match Result