Lanka whitewash Zimbabwe, assures place in the next round

Ahmedabad, Oct 10 (UNI) In-form opener Upul Tharanga's second consecutive ton in the series guided Sri Lanka into the next round as they steamrolled Zimbabwe by 144 runs in second qualifying match of the ICC Champions Trophy match at the Sardar Patel stadium, Motera here today.

Needing 286 for victory the Zimbabweans caved in for 141 in 42.3 overs to give the Islanders a huge 144 run victory.

Set a stiff 286 run victory target following the heroics of opener Upal Tharanga, who scored his second consecutive hundred and sixth overall, the Zimbabwe batsmen meekly surrendered for just 141.

Tharanga was also involved in a 165-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara.

The big win today has virtually assured the Lankans a place in the main competition with two wins from two qualifying games and just one against the West Indies at Mumbai left.

The Lankan bowlers ran through the Zimbabwe batting lineup bowling them out in 42.3 overs for just 141 runs.

Set a target of 286, the Zimbabwe top order once again sank without a trace as they crashed to 23 for three, ending any hopes of victory there and then.

Hamilton Masakadza and Brendon Taylor though put up a semblence of a fight putting up a defiant 63 run fourth wicket partnership.

Masakadza looked in good touch as he lofted Perera over extra cover for a boundary and followed it up with a exquisite cover drive of Lasith Malinga.

At the other end Taylor also got into the act hitting Maharoof for two off side boundaries in one over to raise visions of some sort of fightback by the Zimbabweans.

After the two had put of 63 runs in 12 overs, Taylor departed being beaten for pace by Dilhara Fernando for 30. His knock contained four hits to the fence and came in a stay of 40 balls.

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