Mubarak keeps whitewash on course

Sri Lanka remain on course for a series whitewash against Zimbabwe but were made to work hard for a two-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international in Harare.

After comprehensive wins in the first two ODIs, the tourists toiled for a five-run triumph in the third on Monday but looked to have rediscovered their dominance by skittling their hosts for just 146 this morning - thanks in the main to 6-29 from spinner Ajantha Mendis.

However, they they made hard work of a seemingly meagre victory target and were indebted to Jehan Mubarak for an unbeaten knock of 60 which saw them home with 15 balls to spare.

Mubarak, who came in at number six with the score on 55 for four, guided the Sri Lankans to 150 for eight after the top order failed to deliver.

Openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte looked to have got themselves in but then fell in successive overs.

Jehan Mubarak's steady hand in the middle order ensured there was no upset in Harare

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Tharanga was caught behind by Tatenda Taibu off the bowling of Prosper Utseya for 17 and then Tawanda Mupariwa had Udawatte snapped up by Stuart Matsikenyeri at mid-on for 14.

Mupariwa then snared the prize wicket of Mahela Jayawardene with a first-ball lbw decision and bagged his third wicket soon after when he had Chamara Kapugedera taken at point by Chamu Chibhabha for 12.

Kumar Sangakkara helped steady the ship with 23 before being caught and bowled by Elton Chigumbura, but Angelo Mathews fell three overs later - bowled by Ray Price without having troubled the scorers.

Thilan Thushara and Dammika Prasad contributed six and eight respectively before falling to Chigumbura, but Mubarak and Mendis (three not out) saw Sri Lanka home.

Earlier, Zimbabwe openers Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda made a solid enough start after being asked to bat, putting on 46 for the first wicket before Prasad had Masakadza caught at mid-off by Mathews for 28.

Sibanda followed shortly afterwards, trapped leg before wicket by Mendis for 21, and then Taibu found the safe hands of Jayawardene at first slip off the bowling of Thushara for seven as the Zimbabwe collapse gained momentum.

Mendis trapped Matsikenyeri (nought) and Chibhabha (20) lbw in quick succession and then Jehan Mubarak got in on the act - dismissing Chigumbura, who had picked up just five runs from 41 balls faced.

Keith Dabengwa (32) was next to be sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mubarak off Mendis, who then completed his five-for by having Utseya taken by Kapugedera for eight.

Price became Mendis’ sixth scalp when he was dismissed lbw playing across the line for five, with Thushara rounding things off by having Mupariwa caught by Dilhara Fernando for three.

The fifth and final match of the series takes place in Harare on Sunday.