Kulasekara fires Sri Lanka to victory over Zimbabwe

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December 01, 2008 09:45 IST

Nuwan Kulasekara picked up three wickets in 12 balls as Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in their fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.

Zimbabwe were chasing just 153 for victory and Keith Dabengwa (39) and captain Prosper Utseya (31) lifted them from 58 for six with a 72-run stand that left the hosts needing 23 for victory in 10 overs with four wickets in hand.

Dabengwa then stepped away and tried to carve Kulasekara through the off-side, only to be bowled.

The dismissal changed the momentum of the game as Zimbabwe gave up their last four wickets for just three runs and lost the series 5-0.

Kulasekara finished with three for 14 in nine overs, and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan completing his 10th five-wicket haul in 318 ODIs, having sparked the initial collapse.

Boundaries were a perk for both teams on a pitch that was low and slow and on which no Sri Lankan batsman, save for Angelo Mathews who scored a run-a-ball 31, looked comfortable.

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