Embuldeniya picked his second five-wicket haul

Contributions from Sikandar Raza and Donald Tiripano  helped  Zimbabwe to reach a respectable 358 all out against Sri Lanka on Monday (January 20). Craig Ervine's 85 ensured the hosts moved to steadily to 260 for 5 in the first session but Sri Lanka struck late with three wickets to keep things in check. At stumps Sri Lanka were 42 for the loss of Oshada Fernando.

Regis Chakabva fell early in the session but Raza struck six boundaries to keep the runs flowing. He was eventually stumped in the 129th over as Lasith Embuldeniya bagged his fourth wicket but not before Zimbabwe already had 307 on the board to give the visitors a few headaches on a placid batting track.

Tiripano did well to dig in and played out 103 deliveries for his unbeaten 44. He was on 24 off 74 deliveries at one stage and picked up the scoring rate at the fall of the Ainsley Ndlovu - the No. 10 batsman. Victor Nyauchi played second fiddle to Tiripano scoring 11 off 29 balls. Embuldeniya, who was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler, walked out with his second five-wicket haul when he knocked off Kyle Jarvis in the 131st over.

In the first session, after starting on 189 for 2, Suranga Lakmal trapped Brendan Taylor in front to give the visitors an early opening. Embuldeniya dismissed Sean Williams but not before the left-hander had frustrated them for 46 deliveries. Ervine completed 1000 runs in Test cricket in the second over of the day and looked to consolidate with Taylor. The latter was peppered with short balls and found himself in a tangle at times before being dismissed.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 358/9 (Craig Ervine 85; Lasith Embuldeniya 5-114, Suranga Lakmal 3-53)

Sri Lanka 42/1 (Oshada Fernando 21, Dimuth Karunaratne 12 not out)