Thisara Perera came up with stellar all-rounder performance as Sri Lanka stayed alive in the tri-nation one-day tournament, securing a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Perera claimed four for 33 firstly to bundle Zimbabwe out for 198 before smashing a fluent 26 ball-39 not out--only innings in the either side with strike rate over 100 in a two-paced pitch--which helped the side race to the victory (202 for five) with 31 balls to spare.  He hit one four and three sixes, last of which sealed the deal, much to the relief of the Lankan fans. Opener Kusal Perera was the highest scorer with 49 while captain Dinesh Chandimal was not out on 38.

Despite losing opener Upul Tharanga cheaply, Sri Lanka appeared to win it with ease as Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis kept the side untroubled, rotating the scoreboard intelligently. Zimbabwe however suddenly turned the things in their favor, courtesy to paceman Blessing Muzarabani who moved the ball admirably in a helpful surface to strike thrice in his consecutive three overs.

He broke through with the wicket of Kusal Perera who scored 49 and shared 70-run with Mendis.  Muzarabani followed it up with the wicket of Mendis (36) and Niroshan Dickwella (7) to raise the prospect of another victory over the Lankan side. Captain Dinesh Chandimal resisted but Kyle Jarvis further troubled Sri Lank with the wicket of Asela Gunratne (9). At this phase the game was in the balance. But Perera made the difference again. He hit back with counterattack, leaving Zimbabwe bowlers disarray and they couldn’t way past him.

Perera’s effort earlier in bowling gave Sri Lanka a relatively easy target to chase. Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep gave him handy support, claiming a career best three for 28.

Brendan Taylor who returned to the Zimbabwe national team following his three-year stint with Nottinghamshire, was the highest scorer with 58. He held together the innings after Perera had Zimbabwe wobbling at 56 for three.

Left arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan then dismissed the in-form Sikandar Raza, leaving Zimbabwe on 73 for four but Taylor was unfazed by the spirited Sri Lanka side, who needed to win the game to have any chance of joining Bangladesh in the final.

Taylor and Malcolm Waller combined for a 63-run stand for the fifth wicket to resurrect the innings before Sandakan again struck to get rid of Waller on 24. Perera then returned for his second spell to take the prized scalp of Taylor after he had brought up his 33rd half-century, which included six fours. Taylor’s dismissal effectively ended Zimbabwe’s hopes of setting a big total.

Pradeep joined the party to clean up the tail, as Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer provided the resistance reaching 34 before seeing his leg-stump uprooted. Playing for the first time in the tournament, Sandakan returned figures of 2-57.