Zimbabwe fights to the end Wickremasinghe takes three quick wickets Click here for more on this story Posted: Tuesday June 29, 1999 03:17 PM   Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka (left) drives the ball from Guy Whittal of Zimbabwe during a World Cup match. Mark Thompson/Allsport WORCESTER, England (CNN/SI) -- It was an incisive spell of seam bowling by Pramodya Wickremasinghe, rather than its batsmen's skill with the willow that enabled Sri Lanka to defeat Zimbabwe by four wickets on Saturday. Wickremasinghe, bowling first-change, ripped the heart out of Zimbabwe's batting with a three-wicket burst, as he helped Sri Lanka restrict Zimbabwe to 197 for the loss of nine wickets. After losing its first two matches of the tournament against England and South Africa, Saturday's victory gave Sri Lanka its first two points in the World Cup. The defending champions who were unbeaten in the 1996 tournament now face elimination if it fails to win its remaining two matches. Zimbabwe cruising comfortably on 78 for two collapsed against Wickremasinghe, who took 3-26 in his first eight-over spell. He finished with 3-30 in 10 overs. Bowling into the wind, Wickremasinghe, bowled Paul Strang and then had both Grant Flower and skipper Alistair Campbell caught by wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana. Grant Flower top scored with 42 off 69 balls with six fours. But the middle-order collapse was triggered by a brilliant direct throw by Sanath Jayasuriya. An out-of-form Murray Goodwin, having scored 21 off 29 balls and helped Grant Flower put on 44 for the third wicket, failed to beat Jayasuriya as he ran to the bowler's end. Campbell, one of the in-form batsmen, was unlucky to be adjudged caught by umpire David Shepherd as he played and missed an outstanding delivery. He scored just six runs. Just when Zimbabwe looked like they would recover through a 68-run stand between left hander Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle, another outstanding piece of fielding checked the progress. Carlisle failed to beat Chaminda Vaas's return to Jayasuriya at the bowler's end and off the next ball, Flower, attempted to reverse sweep and top edged a catch to Kaluwitharana. Having taken the score to 162 for six, Zimbabwe was 162 for eight. Flower's 41 came off 60 balls and included three boundaries. A reverse sweep undid No. 10 Heath Streak as he was caught by Marvan Atapattu at short third man to give off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan 2-29 in his 10 overs. It was a disappointing batting effort by Zimbabwe after it had gone into the game unbeaten with wins over Kenya and better rated India. Eddo Brandes (19 not out) and Henry Olonga (five not out) took 17 off the last over bowled by left-arm medium paceman Vaas, inclusive of a six and two other boundaries. Vaas had also conceded 22 runs in the last overs against South Africa when Lance Klusener had hit him for two sixes off the last two deliveries.   Related information Stories South Africa bowls over Sri Lanka to win by 89 runs Sri Lanka's Mendis demands batting improvement Zimbabwe aims to cut out wayward bowling Stats Promodya Wickremasinghe Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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