23/11/2008 8:30 AM
Zimbabwe capitulated tamely once again as Sri Lanka strolled to a nine-wicket victory in the second one-day international in Harare.
The hosts crumbled to 67 all out, just two days after losing their last seven wickets for just three runs in the first game of the five-match series.
Sri Lanka made light work of the run chase, reaching 1-68 in 17.4 overs.
Zimbabwe's batting performance was a particular disappointment after winning the toss.
Tatenda Taibu top scored, as he did on Thursday, but this time made just 12 as one of only three Zimbabweans to reach double figures, with Stuart Matsikenyeri and Sean Williams each adding 10.
Ajantha Mendis was again in the wickets, with Taibu one of four to fall to the spinner for 15 runs, while Farveez Maharoof claimed three and Nuwan Kulasekara conceded just seven runs in as many overs.
Sri Lanka suffered an early setback in their reply, losing Mahela Udawatte when he edged a Tawanda Mupariwa delivery to Hamilton Masakadza at first slip.
That was as good as it got for Zimbabwe as Upul Tharanga (26 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (28 not out) put together an unbroken 49-run stand to see Sri Lanka home.
Zimbabwe needs to win Monday's third match at the same venue if they are to have any chance of overturning the 2-0 deficit.
Zimbabwe innings
Masakadza c Sangakkara b Maharoof 6 (25)
Sibanda c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 4 (9)
Chibhabha c Kapugedera b Maharoof 5 (10)
Taibu b Mendis 12 (38)
Matsikenyeri c Thushara b Maharoof 10 (13)
Chigumbura lbw b Mendis 3 (27)
Williams c Maharoof b Mendis 10 (37)
Utseya c Sangakkara b Thushara 0 (3)
Price c Jayawardene b Thushara 3 (14)
Mupariwa c Jayawardene b Mendis 1 (9)
Mpofu not out 1 (1)
Extras 12 (lb 1, w 11)
Total 67 (all out; 31 overs)
FoW: 1-10 (Sibanda, 1.6 ov), 2-19 (Chibhabha, 6.1 ov), 3-22 (Masakadza, 8.2 ov), 4-34 (Matsikenyeri, 12.4 ov), 5-45 (Taibu, 19.1 ov), 6-48 (Chigumbura, 21.5 ov), 7-49 (Utseya, 22.6 ov), 8-64 (Price, 28.3 ov), 9-66 (Mupariwa, 30.2 ov), 10-67 (Williams, 30.6 ov)
Bowling
Maharoof 8-2-26-3 (2w)
Kulasekara 7-4-7-1 (2w)
Mendis 6-1-15-4
Thushara 7-0-17-2 (2w)
Muralitharan 3-2-1-0
Sri Lanka innings
Tharanga not out 29 (57)
Udawatte c Masakadza b Mupariwa 7 (24)
Sangakkara not out 28 (25)
Extras 7 (lb 2, w 5)
Total 71 (1 wicket; 17.4 overs)
FoW: 1-19 (Udawatte, 7.4 ov)
Bowling
Mpofu 5.4-0-23-0
Mupariwa 6-1-18-1 (4w)
Chigumbura 4-0-24-0
Utseya 2-0-4-0