News » s. I think par is going to be good enough

Match factsOct 29-Nov 2, 2016, Harare Start time 9.30 am (0730 GMT)Big pictureThe last time Sri Lanka played Tests against Zimbabwe was in 2004, when Marvan Atapattu was in his first full series as captain. Kumar Sangakkara made 270 in that Bulawayo Test, his second double-hundred. Between then and now Sangakkara improved his high score twice and retired with only one less double-hundred than Don Bradmans twelve. No Sri Lankans from that tour are on this one.Elton Chigumbura and Tinashe Panyangara made their debuts during that series and remain Zimbabwes only active cricketers from that tour. Unlike several of those Sri Lankans, who had storied careers, Chigumbura played only 14 Tests and Panyangara nine. The Harare Test beginning this Saturday will only be Zimbabwes 25th since then, and neither player will feature in it.Between 2004 and 2016, cricket in Zimbabwe has suffered because of the boards financial trouble and a talent exodus as players and coaches sought better opportunities with other teams. Both issues fed off each other.There is a sense of optimism now, though. Heath Streak, one of Zimbabwes finest cricketers, is back - this time as coach - and has a plan that puts players first. With Tatenda Taibu, who is now a selector and development officer, Streak aims to create a structure that nurtures budding cricketers. And thats whom this match will be about for Zimbabwe.Their next Test series is a return tour to Sri Lanka in June 2017, but Streak has vowed to have plenty of cricket before then, which might mean these fixtures are not make or break for players like the uncapped youngsters Tarisai Musakanda and Carl Mumba, and the returning Malcolm Waller, who hasnt played a Test since 2014. That breathing space could facilitate a positive approach from Zimbabwe instead of being wary of embarrassment, a theme that had crept into their cricket according to Streak.Sri Lanka have a young side of their own. A combination of injuries and player management issues have deprived them of their captain Angelo Mathews, vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal, and fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera. However, the stand-in captain Rangana Herath was not worried, especially after the recent 3-0 whitewash of Australia.Herath, at the age of 38, was at the forefront of that victory with 28 wickets, and he was supported by fellow spinners Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan. However, Sri Lanka were able to play three spinners because Mathews provided a medium-pace option, which they will now be without. Their batting is also inexperienced, with only Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga, a late inclusion in the squad, having played more than five away Tests.Heraths story of leading Sri Lanka for the first time 17 years after making his debut adds to the significance of this fixture. It is also Zimbabwes 100th Test, and they will hope to end their winless record against Sri Lanka.Form guideZimbabwe LLLLL (completed matches, most recent first) Sri LankaWWWDLIn the spotlightBrian Chari and Peter Moor scored centuries in the games against Pakistan A earlier this month. Its likely they will feature in this game to strengthen the Zimbabwe batting. Malcom Waller will also be hoping to claim his spot after returning to the Test squad; he made four fifties across formats against Pakistan A recently.Sri Lanka have persisted with Dimuth Karunaratne, despite the general feeling back home that he doesnt belong at the highest level. Hes coming off a series against West Indies A in which he made 131, 39 not out, 68 and 3. As the most senior batsman in this side, he has a point to prove, especially with eight of his 12 most recent Test innings ending in single digits.Team newsZimbabwes strength is their batting. Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine will form the core, and Peter Moor is certain to play. Moor has occasional back issues, and Regis Chakabva keeping wicket could mean no place in the team for Sikandar Raza. Carl Mumba is likely to make debut, but Musakanda might have to wait.Zimbabwe (probable) 1 Tino Mawoyo, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Peter Moor, 7 Regis Chakabva/Sikandar Raza, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Chris MpofuUpul Tharanga and the uncapped Asela Gunaratne are likely to replace Mathews and Chandimal in Sri Lankas line-up. Teenage fast bowler Lahiru Kumara could also make a debut depending on Sri Lankas combination.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Niroshan Dickwella, 7 Dananjaya de Silva, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lahiru GamagePitch and conditionsThe pitch looked like a typical Harare Sports Club surface, with a consistent layer of grass that should hold the surface together over five days without offering huge assistance to the seamers. October is the hottest month in Zimbabwe and no rain is forecast.Stats and triviaAll of Zimbabwes 11 Test wins have come against subcontinent teams, but have never beaten Sri Lanka in 15 encountersHerath needs 24 wickets to pass Chaminda Vaas 355 and become Sri Lankas second highest wicket-takerHamilton Masakadza needs 269 more to become the fifth Zimbabwean to score 2000 runs. He needs 259 to overtake Heath Streak, who has 1990 runs.QuotesWere still the underdogs, but with them having a few debutants and missing Angelo Mathews - who gives them a lot of balance and is a serious player - they will be weaker by their standards.Zimbabwe head coach Heath StreakWe learnt a little bit from playing Australia, when they came as the No 1 Test nation and we were well down the rankings list, yet we were able to outplay them. So I dont think you can look at an opposition in Test cricket and think it will be an easy ride. Zimbabwe have played quite a bit of good cricket recently so theyre sharp and have probably worked out their best combinations, so were expecting them to be a really good team.Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford Noah Fant Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Royce Freeman Womens Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Dennis-Smith-Broncos-Jerseys/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Gary Zimmerman Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Courtland Sutton Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend.SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- Inbee Park was mad, even if it didnt show in her always placid demeanour. She had made bogey, her third straight, on a hole she thought she should have birdied, and the worlds top-ranked player was looking a bit shaky. Time for a clutch putt. Park is now one round away from history, leading the U.S. Womens Open by four strokes. She shot 1-under 71 on Saturday in harsh conditions at Sebonack and was 10 under for the tournament. Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim had a 73 to remain in second but lost two strokes to Park. With the wind whipping, the course set up long and the pin placements tricky, Park was the only player to shoot under par in the third round. No one has ever won the first three majors in a year when there were at least four. "Im just going to try to do the same thing that I did for the last three days," Park said. "Yeah, it will be a big day. But its just a round of golf, and I just try not to think about it so much." She wasnt too disappointed by her bogeys on the 11th and 12th; those were tough holes. But on the par-5 13th, her chip on her third shot rolled into the bunker when it should have put her in position for a birdie putt. She still led by three strokes but appeared vulnerable - at least by her recently lofty standards. "That bogey was a bad bogey," Park said, "so after that I really got my concentration going." She was unlucky then lucky on the par-4 14th. She thought her second shot would be pushed back by the wind, but it carried too far and settled on the ridge above the hole. No worries: Park simply holed a 30-foot, downhill putt for birdie. "That was a big putt for me," she said. "Those three bogeys were very tough to handle in the kind of situation that I was in." A hole later, she made a 15-foot birdie putt. It looked as though nobody would break par for the day until she birdied No. 18. Only five players were under par for the tournament. Englands Jodi Ewart Shadoff (74) was third at 3 under. She had to play 21 holes Saturday after the second round was suspended the night before because of fog. Park had good timing Friday: Her group was on the 18th fairway when the horn sounded, so she was able to finish off her round and rest up for the weekend. Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., shot her seecond straight 77, and is at 7-over 223.dddddddddddd Brooke Mackenzie Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., matched the days high score with an 83, and is at 230. Not a morning person, Ewart Shadoff didnt enjoy waking up at 4:30 a.m. She birdied the 18th hole to earn a spot in the final group with Park and Kim, then took a nap in the four-plus hours between rounds. Ewart Shadoff had a chance to make things interesting on No. 12 with Park on the way to a bogey. But her long birdie putt slid over the hole, and she missed the par putt. Instead of pulling within two strokes of Park, Ewart Shadoff remained four back. Then she bogeyed two of the last three holes. Kim had a double bogey on No. 3 to fall back. She played 2 under the rest of the way, but that one bad hole allowed Park to put some distance between them. "She is playing great. But you never know, I might have a great day tomorrow," Kim said. "So golf is a different thing than other sports. Thats why you play four rounds." If Park shoots even-par or better Sunday, it will be just the fourth time the U.S. Womens Open was won with a score in double digits below par. No wonder Brittany Lincicome joked to reporters, "I think Inbees playing a different golf course, which you guys are unaware of yet." Certainly feels that way. With Park again on a different plane from the rest of the field, the biggest excitement Saturday might have come when Jessica Korda fired her caddie after nine holes and replaced him with her boyfriend. The switch seemed to work: After shooting 5 over on the front nine, Korda was 1 under the rest of the way. She finished with a 76 and was tied for sixth at 1 over, 11 strokes behind Park. The 2008 U.S. Womens Open champion, Park has already won five times this year, including her last two tournaments. "Im just going to think that I.K. and I am tied starting in tomorrows play because anything can happen out here," she said. "I mean, four shots, it could be nothing around this golf course. So I just have to keep pushing myself to make par tomorrow, but Im just going to try to do my bes