Taylor sews up shock win over Sri Lanka
Brendan Taylor scored a career-best unbeaten 119 as Zimbabwe recorded their third win in the triangular series with an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
The hosts playing a dead rubber against a side they would face in the final tomorrow showed off their skills as they overhauled the 237-run target with 13 balls to spare. Taylor added 134 runs for the second wicket with Chamu Chibhabha, who scored 58 in his 50th One-Day International.
The early loss of the in-form Hamilton Masakadza did little damage as Taylor took it upon himself to stay till the end as he hit nine fours and a six. After Chibhabha’s wicket in the 32nd over, Tatenda Taibu made sure that Zimbabwe’s innings did not derail as he put on 92 runs with the opener to take his team past the finish line.
Sri Lanka, who rested some players from the game, did not get too much assistance from the slow track and failed miserably with the bat. Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on a run-a-ball 122 for the first wicket but no other batsman went past the 16-run mark as Zimbabwe bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.
But man of the match Taylor was aware that Sri Lanka would bounce back. He said, “Sri Lanka rested some players and the contest will definitely be stiffer in the final. I am trying to find some consistency with my batting and it’s a nice feeling to get a few good scores here.”
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
The hosts playing a dead rubber against a side they would face in the final tomorrow showed off their skills as they overhauled the 237-run target with 13 balls to spare. Taylor added 134 runs for the second wicket with Chamu Chibhabha, who scored 58 in his 50th One-Day International.
The early loss of the in-form Hamilton Masakadza did little damage as Taylor took it upon himself to stay till the end as he hit nine fours and a six. After Chibhabha’s wicket in the 32nd over, Tatenda Taibu made sure that Zimbabwe’s innings did not derail as he put on 92 runs with the opener to take his team past the finish line.
Sri Lanka, who rested some players from the game, did not get too much assistance from the slow track and failed miserably with the bat. Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on a run-a-ball 122 for the first wicket but no other batsman went past the 16-run mark as Zimbabwe bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.
But man of the match Taylor was aware that Sri Lanka would bounce back. He said, “Sri Lanka rested some players and the contest will definitely be stiffer in the final. I am trying to find some consistency with my batting and it’s a nice feeling to get a few good scores here.”
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.