Ervine scored his second Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Zimbabwe wobbled early on in their innings after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 504 courtesy of Asela Gunratne’s maiden century, but Craig Ervine and Brian Chari steadied the hosts at the end of the second day in Harare as they both scored 60 not out.
Starting off the day on 290/5, Dhananjaya de Silva, who started the day unbeaten on 100, and Gunaratne, who was on 13, converted their 35-run partnership into an 87-run stand before De Silva was caught and bowled by Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer for 127 off 245 balls, which included 14 boundaries.
Gunaratne and Dilruwan Perera kept the runs flowing with a 54-run partnership, during which Gunaratne brought up his fifty, before Perera was given out lbw off the bowling of Cremer for 34.
Sri Lanka’s dominance with the bat continued as Gunaratne and stand-in captain Rangana Herath put together a 75-run stand before Herath was caught behind off the bowling of Tiripano for 27.
Tiripano struck again just two balls later as he clean bowled Suranga Lakmal for a duck.
Gunaratne went on to score a career-best 116 off 193 deliveries, which included 15 boundaries and a six, before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Peter Moor off the bowling of Sean Williams.
Gunaratne scored his maiden Test century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Cremer and Tiripano picked up three wickets apiece, while Hamilton Masakadza snapped up two and Williams and Chris Mpofu chipped in with one wicket each as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 504.
Trailing by 504 runs, Zimbabwe got off to a disastrous start as opener Tino Mawoyo was trapped lbw off the bowling of Herath for three runs before Masakadza fell just two balls later.
Having been dealt a double blow within the space of three balls, Zimbabwe were in desperate need of a big partnership.
Ervine and Chari came to the rescue for the hosts as they kept Sri Lanka at bay and ensured their side didn’t lose any more wickets. The pair accumulated an unbeaten 109-run partnership, during which they both surpassed their half-centuries, before stumps was called.
Ervine finished on 60 off 92 balls, which included eight boundaries, while Chari remained undefeated on 60 off 100 deliveries, which included six boundaries and two sixes.
Chari struck six boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten knock of 60
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Herath was the only bowler to take any wickets.
Zimbabwe ended day two on 126/2 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 GMT.