PERSISTENT rain forced the abandonment of the first of five one-day matches between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka at Bulawayo on Saturday.
Zimbabwe were 65 for one after 14.5 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 284 for nine when the match was called off.
Three half centuries and steady scoring down the order took Sri Lanka to their imposing score. Openers Sanath Jayasuria and Romesh Kaluwitharana scored 54, and Russel Arnold 56.
Jayasuria’s innings was the most impressive, coming off 44 balls and including six fours and three sixes, two of them driven high over cover.
The touring team launched their innings in fine style with an aggressive stand of 96 between captain Jayasuria and Kaluwitharana.
It ended in the 13th over when Jayasuria skied a ball from seamer Gary Brent to Guy Whittall at square leg.
The other major partnership of the innings was between Arnold and Tillekaratne Dilshan, who scored 35. They shared 71 for the fifth wicket.
Dilshan went in the 43rd over, stumped down the legside by wicketkeeper Andy Flower off Brent who finished with four for 53.
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