Andy props Zimbabwe

Sharjah, October 21: A fine unbeaten 120 by Andy Flower helped Zimbabwe post a fighting 224 for four against Sri Lanka in the second match of the triangular One-Day cricket series here on Saturday.Flower hit his second One-Day century and added 153 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket with Dirk Viljoen 63 n.o. who completed his maiden half-century, to prop up Zimbabwe, who started shakily losing their first four wickets with just 72 runs on the board.

Flower and Viljoen took the fight to the Sri Lankan camp from there with some sensible batting. The two worked away the singles and twos during the initial stages of their partnership. But once, the innings reached the 40 over mark, both cutloose to take their team to a respectable total.

Flower completed his century off 125 balls which contained six fours and one six. He went on to hit two more fours as he raced to 120 off 141 balls. Viljoen on the other side hit three mighty sixes and a four in his 72-ball knock.

Scoreboard:

Zimbabwe: D Marillier c Kaluwitharana b Zoysa 7, M Vermeulen c Jayasuriya b Weeraratne 22, S Carlisle run out 0, A Flower not out 120, G Whittall c and b Muralitharan 8, D Viljoen not out 63, Extras w-3, lb-1, b-1 5, Total for four wickets in 50 overs 225
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-13, 3-56, 4-72.

Bowling: Vaas 8-0-40-0, Zoysa 10-1-30-1, Weeraratne 8-0-33-1, Muralitharan 9-0-45-1, Jayasuriya 6-0-31-0, Arnold 8-0-44-0.