Chari, Ervine steady ship after early wobble

Zimbabwe were reeling at 17-2 and it looked like a disaster was on the cards chasing down Sri Lanka’s first innings of 504 in the second test at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

Brian Chari sweeps on Day 2 of the test match against Sri lanka at Harare Sports Club

It was then that Craig Ervine joined Brian Chari at the crease with an uphill task looking even more stark. And Ervine came in with intent:

In the first test I felt I was a bit more conservative and today I was feeling a little pressure at 17-2 and I felt it was a good chance to turn the momentum around and on our side.

By that time Chari had become the first Zim opener score first runs with a six in an innings. On top of that the first of decisions made against him by both umpires had been overturned, thanks to a review via the Decision Review System (DRS). Suranga Lakmal’s ball was shown by the tracker to be comfortably going over the stumps.

From then on Chari and Ervine dug in, scoring comfortably for the most part.

Chari was given out again in the eighth over but a thin inside edge saved his bacon. Again the DRS overturned a decision on review.

Ervine:

It makes the dressing room feel that we need DRS here more often and it is comforting that you have a second chance (after a few decisions went against Zimbabwe’s way in the first test).

His highest score before that having been 25 at test level after 4 matches, Chari got to his half century with a six. Ervine said the it was a lift for the team:

Am sure it is a relief for the team and Chari. I know that selectors have said if you’re going to give someone a chance you got to give them a good run at it. He has struggled at international cricket but he has scored at domestic and A level so it was just a matter of time until he scored. And now that he scored some runs he should be OK.

The Chevrons ended the day on 126-2 both batsmen hoping to survive the first hour of batting on Tuesday.

Earlier Donald Tirpano and captain Graeme Cremer both ended with three wickets each not before Asela Gunaratne (116) had joined Dhanjaya de Silva (127) as a centurion. Zimbabwe keeper Peter Moor came under criticism for a couple of dropped catches but redeemed himself in the hour of the Sri Lanka innings including the stumping Gunaratne and Herath as well as either vital interventions particularly one that turned sharply probably after hitting a crack from Cremer.

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said he expected the turn in this pitch to give his charges, particularly Rangana Herath a more of a say in the match.

Play resumes on Tuesday at 10am.