Zimbabwe Emerging XI won the second match and registered the series win against Sri Lanka Emerging XI by winning the second one day match of the three match, one day series by 14 runs.
Sri Lanka Emerging XI captain Rumesh Buddika won the toss for the second time in a row, but this time elected to bowl first in Harare.
Opening fast bowler Kasun Madushanka struck in the very first ball of the match to dismiss Kevin Kasuza for a duck. In the other end, left arm fast bowler Anuk Fernando got two wickets in consecutive overs including the prized wicket of Tarisal Musakanda who played the match wining knock in the last game. At one stage, Zimbabwe was 4 for 53 after 9.4 overs.
However, Zimbabwe batsman Brian Chari rose to the occasion and built a solid partnership of 48 runs with Kudzai Sauramba for the fifth wicket and a 70 run partnership with Nathan Waller for the sixth wicket.
Brian Chari was dismissed for 85 runs off 105 balls as the sixth wicket and the captain Peter Moor for 44 runs off 57 balls as the seventh wicket.
Then it saw a brilliant partnership of 73 runs for the eighth wicket between Carl Mumba (40) and Mkhululi Nyathi (29) as Zimbabwe Emerging XI finished the allotted 50 overs with 255 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
For Sri Lanka, Anuk Fernando was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed 3 wickets for 46 runs. The off spinner Charith Asalanka took 2 wickets for 37 runs and Kasun Madushanka, Keshan Wijerathne and Lasith Ambuldeniya picked one wicket each.
In reply, Sri Lanka Emerging XI got the worst possible start to their innings as the opening batsman P.Waduge and number three batsman Charith Asalanka both got out very early to restrict Sri Lanka to 12 for 2 after 4.1 overs.
Hashan Dumindu (25) and Sandun Weerakkody (23) tried to build the innings but both lost their wickets to right arm fast medium bowler Mkhululi Nyathi which left Sri Lanka 77/5 after 19.2 overs.
The captain Rumesh Buddhika and Anuk Fernando then got together and built a valuable partnership of 110 runs for the sixth wicket. Anuk Fernando was dismissed for 52 runs off 55 balls as the sixth wicket. At the crucial stage of the innings, skipper Rumesh Buddhika ran out himself which saw the end of a fighting innings of 75 runs off 93 balls.
When he got out Sri Lanka was 211 for 7 requiring another 45 runs off 38 balls. It was too much for the tail enders as Zimbabwe bowled out Sri Lanka for 241.
Victor Nyauchi (39/3) and Mkhululi Nyathi (41/3) picked up there wickets each for Zimbabwe Emerging XI. With this win Zimbabwe Emerging XI win the one day series 2-0 with one more match to play.
The third and final match of the one day series will be played on 7th September at the same venue.
Brief Scores
Zimbabwe Emerging XI – 255 for 9 in 50 overs: Brian Chari 85, Peter Moor 44, Carl Mumba 40, Anuk Fernando 46/3, Charith Asalanka 37/2, Keshan Wijerathne 40/1
Sri Lanka Emerging XI – 241 all out in 49.1 overs: Rumesh Buddhika 75, Anuk Fernando 52, Hashan Dumindu 25, Victor Nyauchi 39/3, Mkhululi Nyathi 41/3, Carl Mumba 38/1
