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JUST after lunch yesterday, four Sri Lankan wickets were down for 40 runs as they faced up to a Zimbabwe Development XI’s first-innings total of 349 at Harare Sports Club, and the home side scented a major victory. However, there followed a magnificent and remarkable partnership of 236 runs between the middle-order pair of Charith Asalanka (100 not out) and Sandun Weerakkody (151) that turned the match on its head.By the close of play, the Sri Lankans could be said to hold a slight potential advantage now, being 62 runs behind the Zimbabweans with five wickets still in hand.

The Zimbabwean team resumed on their overnight score of 302 for six wickets, with Luke Jongwe on 22 and Carl Mumba nine.

Shehan Madushanka, the fastest of the Sri Lankan bowlers, took the first over, and with his final delivery he knocked Mumba’s off stump out of the ground with a fine delivery before he had added to his score.

There followed a useful partnership between Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza, who again did well enough to show he could become a genuine all-rounder.

He saw off Madushanka, but as soon as Anuk Fernando, the left-handed seamer, came on, he flirted with a ball outside the off stump and edged it to the keeper for 14; 341 for eight.

The innings did not last much longer.

Dylan Hondo, in trying to get off the mark, was brilliantly run out at the bowler’s end, a direct hit, as had happened to Charles Kunje.

With the last man, Victor Nyauchi, at the crease, Jongwe reached his 50 off 75 balls, but without addition he fished at a ball from Fernando outside his off stump and was caught at the wicket.

The Zimbabweans were all out for 349, quite a good score, though it cannot be conclusively evaluated until the opposition has shown what they can do on the same pitch.

There were two wickets each to Fernando, Madushanka and Charith Asalanka, who did not bowl this morning.

With just over half an hour to go until lunch, the Sri Lankans opened their batting with Pabasara Waduge and Hashan Dumindu, to the bowling of Nyauchi and Mumba.

Nyauchi struck in his second over, as Waduge (3) groped for a ball outside the off stump and edged a catch to Nyasha Mayavo, the wicketkeeper; the Sri Lankans were eight for one.

In his next over, Nyauchi struck again, trapping Dumindu lbw for four, and the Sri Lankans had lost both openers with only nine runs on the board.

Worse was to follow for the tourists, as Mumba joined the party, making a ball fly to Lahiru Milantha (1), who could only edge it haplessly to first slip; nine for three.

Mumba in particular was working up a good pace and troubling the batsmen. Asalanka (5) and Rumesh Buddika (2), both left-handers, survived until lunch, when the score was 16 for three wickets.

After the break, the Sri Lankans decided to play more positively, and for a while it worked as runs started to come in good style.

But then Nyauchi struck again, as Buddika (17) sparred at a rising ball outside the off stump and Mayavo took another catch at the wicket; 40 for four.

Sandun Weerakkody, another left-hander, also looked to be positive, and drove and slashed away fearlessly.

The change bowlers were less effective for the Zimbabweans, and Weerakkody raced to a risky but sparkling 50 off 40 balls, while Asalanka gave him good support.

The 100 partnership between the pair came off 103 balls, with Weerakkody claiming 66 of them.

Scores

Zimbabwe Development – 349 all out in 100.1 overs (Brian Chari 76, Tarisai Musakanda 61, Charles Kunje 53, Luke Jongwe 50; Anuk Fernando 2/23, Shehan Madushanka 2/69, Charith Asalanka 2/79)

Sri Lanka Development – 287 for 5 in 73 overs (Sandun Weerakkody 151, Charith Asalanka 100*; Victor Nyauchi 3/42, Carl Mumba 2/63)

Stumps – Day 2: Sri Lanka Development trail by 62 runs with five wickets remaining in the first innings. — Zimcricket.