Newly appointed Sri Lankan captain Rangana Herath inspired his team to a 2-0 series win against Zimbabwe after beating the hosts by 257 runs. Herath, who was appointed as the captain for the series against Zimbabwe, claimed eight wickets in Zimbabwe’s second innings to bundle them out for just 233.
Put into bat on day 1 the Lankans were off to a shaky start as they lost four wickets for just 112 on the board. Dhananjaya de Silva and Asela Gunaratne steadied the ship by putting on a 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Dhananjaya reached his second Test ton before getting out for 127 while Gunaratne carried on and scored his first Test century. Few crucial contributions from the tailenders helped the hosts post 504 runs on the board.
In reply, Zimbabwe had no clue against Herath as they lost two early wickets before Brian Chari and Craig Ervine saw through the day 2 with an 117-run partnership. On day 3, Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for 272. Herath was the pick of the bowlers as he ended up taking 5 wickets conceding 89 runs.
Sri Lanka decided to bat again with opener Dimuth Karunaratne giving his side a good start with a gritty 82 before Kusal Perera’s quickfire 69 prompted Herath to declare the innings at 258-9. Chasing 491 to win, the hosts were never in the hunt as Herath ran through the Zimbabwe batting order. Ervine’s 72 saved Zimbabwe from an embarrassment as his team was bundled out for just 233. Herath finished with figures of 8-63.
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Here are some of the records created by Rangana Herath in this match
350- Herath took 350 Test wickets in 75 matches, the second quickest spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan (66) and the joint sixth-quickest to reach the milestone.
38 years, 236 days- Herath becomes the oldest cricket to take 350 Test wickets.
5- This is the fifth time Herath has taken 12 wickets in a Test, the second most by any bowler.
13-152- Herath’s match figures is the third best match figures by a captain in Tests.
8-59- This is the best bowling figures in an innings by a bowler in Zimbabwe.
13-152- This is the best match figures by a bowler in Zimbabwe.
Herath becomes the first captain to take 10 wickets in a Test match since Shaun Pollock in 2001.
Herath becomes the third bowler after Muralitharan and Dale Steyn to take five-wicket hauls against each team in Tests.
54- Herath has 54 wickets in 2016. He overtook R Ashwin’s 2016 tally in this Test.
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