Zim avoid follow-on after record stand

Stuart Carlisle and Trevor Gripper shared a 153-run record first wicket partnership as Zimbabwe avoided the follow-on in the third and final Test on Monday against Sri Lanka.

Replying to Sri Lanka's first innings of 418, Zimbabwe finished the third day at 230 for five with Grant Flower (19) and Heath Streak (29) at the crease.

The match was poised for Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who had 395 wickets, to become the fastest and youngest bowler to take 400 test wickets.

However Muralitharan, who bowled 47 overs on Monday and finished the day with figures of two for 66 off 53 overs, was thwarted by Carlisle (64) and Gripper's (83) stand.

The pair broke the previous highest opening partnership against Sri Lanka of 113 between Grant Flower and Mark Dekker at Harare in 1994-95.

Their stand was just 11 runs short of equalling Zimbabwe's first wicket partnership record against all countries and surpassed the 40 that Hamilton Masakadza and Gripper scored in the first test as their best opening stand of this series.

Carlisle told reporters afterwards: "It was very clear in our minds that we had to come out in the third Test and really try and mean business and finish off at least in the right direction.

"At the moment we are only five down and I am hoping to get a pretty big partnership from Grant and Heath tomorrow. We've still got Dion Abraham to come in and who knows we might even get in front of them. The whole picture will then reverse."

FALLING BEHIND

After the opening partnership was broken by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who in a spell of 14 overs of left-arm spin captured three wickets for 16 runs, Zimbabwe slumped to 171 for five and were in danger of falling behind the follow-on mark of 219.

But Grant Flower and Streak then denied Sri Lanka any further success with an unbroken 59-run sixth wicket partnership.

Earlier on Gripper and Carlisle frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers before Jayasuriya, who mixed his bowling attack, had Gripper stumped by Kumar Sangakkara for 83 shortly before tea.

Gripper batted for 278 minutes and faced 247 balls hitting 10 fours in his knock.

Jayasuriya then struck in his next over trapping Craig Wishart lbw for one without offering a shot.

Carlisle was first out in the final session, adding just one run to his tea score of 63, when he played back to Muralitharan and was trapped in front. He batted for 326 minutes and faced 274 balls hitting four fours.

Muralitharan then struck again shortly after when he had Andy Flower caught at second slip by Hashan Tillakaratne for six.

Gavin Rennie's dubious dismissal was the final wicket to fall on a slow day's play, caught behind by Sangakkara off Jayasuriya for seven after he pushed forward and the ball appeared to come off his front pad.

Streak and Grant Flower then defended for the final 27 overs of the day to see the visitors through to 230 for five.

Mail Cricket Editor