Dhananjaya century puts Sri Lanka on top in Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka’s batsman Dhananjaya de silva (L) raises his bat to celebrate a 100 runs as Zimbabwe’s Christopher Mpofu looks on during the first day of the second cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and hosts Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports club, on 6 November 2016 - AFP

Reuters: Dhananjaya de Silva scored his second test century to lift Sri Lanka to 290 for five at the close of play on the opening day of the second test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

De Silva (100 not out) will resume on the second morning with Asela Gunaratne (13 not out) as Sri Lanka seek to build a big first innings total and claim the series having won the first test by 225 runs.

Zimbabwe won the toss and asked the tourists to bat on a pitch that had a noticeable covering of grass.

They reduced Sri Lanka to 112 for four shortly after lunch, but could not build on that good start.

A 143-run fifth wicket stand between De Silva and Upul Tharanga (79) steadied the innings, before the latter was caught at slip by Hamilton Masakadza off the bowling of home captain Graeme Cremer.

The wicket came via a deflection off the gloves of wicketkeeper Peter Moor and was notable for the first ever use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in Zimbabwe after Australian umpire Simon Fry had originally turned down the home side’s appeals.

Masakadza had earlier claimed the first two wickets as Dimuth Karunaratne (26) and Kusal Perera (four) were both caught, before Kaushal Silva (37) was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Mpofu.

Kusal Mendis (26) was the other wicket to fall as he was caught by Moor off Donald Tiripano.

Upul Tharanga named Sri Lanka captain for tri-series

ESPNCricinfo: Sri Lanka have named Upul Tharanga as captain of the ODI side for their tri-series in Zimbabwe, which includes West Indies, as regular captain Angelo Mathews and vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal are both absent through injury. Kusal Perera will fill the role of vice-captain, while veteran seamer Nuwan Kulasekara has been recalled to the 15-man squad.

Tharanga scored a century in Sri Lanka’s victory in the first Test against Zimbabwe at Harare this week - his first in more than a decade. He made a comeback to the one-day team earlier in the year, during the tour of England and Ireland, but was dropped for the home series against Australia, only playing in the fifth ODI after the series was lost.

Mathews pulled out of the Zimbabwe tour with “multiple leg injuries” and was replaced as captain for the Tests by Rangana Herath. Chandimal has been recovering from a thumb injury but was not deemed fit enough to take part in the series with Zimbabwe and West Indies. Nuwan Pradeep has, however, recovered from a hamstring strain and returns to contention.

Kulasekara’s last ODI came on the tour of New Zealand at the start of the year. He announced his retirement from Tests in June, in order to prolong his limited-overs career, and took 2 for 65 for Sri Lanka A against West Indies A last week.

Jeffrey Vandersay is also back in the squad after a finger injury, having last played for Sri Lanka at the World T20. Allrounder Asela Gunaratne and seamer Lahiru Kumara, who both made their Test debuts in Harare, were included and could win their first ODI caps; Kumara, 19, has yet to even play a List A game.

There was no place for left-arm spinner Amila Aponso after an impressive debut series against Australia. Sachith Pathirana, Lakshan Sandakan, the chinaman bowler who has played ODI previously, and the recalled Shehan Jayasuriya make up the spin options alongside Vandersay.

Sri Lanka’s first match in the tri-series is against Zimbabwe on 14 November.

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga (capt), Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asela Gunaratne, Sachith Pathirana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Jeffery Vandersay