The decision review system (DRS) in cricket circles made its debut in Zimbabwe yesterday and the host immediately benefitted from the technology on the first day of their second Test against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club.
BY KEVIN MAPASURE
When the stumps were drawn, Sri Lanka who batted first after Zimbabwe had won the toss, were on 290 for 5.
Dhananjaya Silva had just celebrated his century on 100 not out while Asela Gunaratne will resume on 13 this morning.
But Zimbabwe will be reasonably pleased with their shift in the field having claimed five scalps, and for two of those they needed DRS. Part-time bowler Hamilton Masakadza claimed two wickets in the first session to give Zimbabwe a good starting point.
The breakthrough arrived in the 15th over when he rid the visitors of Dimuth Karunaratne (26) with Sean Williams completing a good catch.
Zimbabwe probed and probed under a scorching sun and they must have enjoyed their lunch after Masakadza took out Kusal Perera (4) five minutes before the end of the first session. Perera became Masakadza’s second victim with six balls.
It was just what Zimbabwe would have wished for and it would have come as a confidence booster.
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In the second session, Donald Tiripano finally claimed his first wicket of the series when he found Kusal Mendis’ edge for wicket Peter Moor, who had a tidy performance, to take the catch.
Before that DRS first came into play when Chris Mpofu trapped Kaushal Silva. Silva asked for a review, but he lost the case.
After that, Zimbabwe struggled to add to their wickets tally with Upul Tharanga and Dhananjan Silva collaborating for a 143-run fifth wicket stand which boosted Sri Lanka.
It took captain Graeme Cremer to break the partnership in the last session with Masakadza taking the catch at slip.
The home side tried all they could to get some more success, but there wasn’t any more joy to come. At least they have something to work with today and they will be looking to unsettle the tourists with some early wickets.
Yesterday, they used seven bowlers who also include Malcolm Waller who bowled five overs at the expense of 23 runs, Williams who conceded eight in his five overs, Chris Mpofu who used up 17 overs as well as Carl Mumba who was given 14 overs and went for 54 runs.
With Zimbabwe having named an unchanged side from the first Test, hope is that they would have learned from the mistakes they made in the first match where they lost by 225 runs.
They were a bit more assured in the field yesterday.
They will be looking for more of that today and some solidity when they come in to bat.
