Six-wicket Mendis sets up narrow Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis captured a career-best 6-29 as the tourists edged Zimbabwe by two wickets to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match one-day series here on Friday.

Mendis helped bowl out Zimbabwe for just 147 in 46.3 overs and they seemed set fair for a comfortable victory, especially after Zimbabwe had slumped to low scores of 124 and 67 all out in earlier matches.

But they endured an anxious afternoon as they just managed to scramble over the line with eight wickets down, making a hard fought 150-8 in 47.3 overs.

For Zimbabwe, Keith Dabengwa top scored with 32 off 59 balls as his colleagues fell regularly.

For Sri Lanka, their batting hero was Jehan Mubarak, whose 60 not out came off 99 balls but turned out to be the match winner.

They had been 33-0 and looking secure but they were suddenly reeling at 33-3, with Elton Chigumbura taking three wickets in one over, including Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayewardene who failed to score.

The tourists were suddenly on the back foot as they were 55-4, 95-5, 101-6 and then 116-7.

Prosper Utseya chipped in with 1-18 and Ray Price with 1-24, economy rates which could have proved decisive had the home side had the runs to play with.

Chigumbura finished with 3-35 and Tawanda Mupariwa 3-34.

Had Sri Lanka had lost they would have been the first losers here since West Indies more than two years ago.

The fifth and final match takes place here on Sunday.