Zimbabwe Tri-series, 2016-17

1 Sri Lanka 2 Zimbabwe 3 West Indies
This triangular series between some of international cricket's lesser lights twinkled with possibility. Sri Lanka were weakened by injuries to senior players, and West Indies beset by the seemingly unending quarrels between the board and team, so for once Zimbabwe had the most experienced side on show. This probably helped them win the tight moments: they conjured an unlikely tie in the first match against West Indies, then won the tense, rain affected return fixture to make sure they reached the final of their own party.

However, that was the end of the good news. Sri Lanka played streetwise cricket, under their experienced stand-in captain Upul Tharanga, and were too strong in the final. They ran out worthy winners, although they were helped by having the best of the conditions. After the match, the Zimbabwean seamer Brian Vitori - having just returned from remedial work on his action - was reported again.

The first two matches were played under gloomy skies in Harare, before the circus - and the bad weather - moved south to Bulawayo. Only one game was rained off, but three others were interrupted. It all added to the drama of a hard-fought series which included a one-run victory, as well as that tie. West Indies should have won both, dropped three points and missed out on the final, which also harmed their chances of picking up the ranking points necessary to qualify directly for the next World Cup. Their personnel problems got worse, too: Darren Bravo was sent home mid-series for tweeting that the West Indian board president Dave Cameron - who had spoken about why Bravo was offered a reduced contract - was a "big idiot".

For Zimbabwean fans, the series permitted brief respite from the country's financial and political problems. Under new coach Heath Streak, there were promising debuts for batsman Tarisai Musakanda and seamer Carl Mumba. The tour was also notable for the spirit in which the teams competed. Suranga Lakmal's occasional bluster aside, there was hardly a cross moment.

Match reports for

1st Match: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 14, 2016
Report | Scorecard

2nd Match: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Harare, Nov 16, 2016
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3rd Match: Zimbabwe v West Indies at Bulawayo, Nov 19, 2016
Report | Scorecard

4th Match: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Bulawayo, Nov 21, 2016
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5th Match: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Bulawayo, Nov 23, 2016
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6th Match: Zimbabwe v West Indies at Bulawayo, Nov 25, 2016
Report | Scorecard

Final: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Bulawayo, Nov 27, 2016
Report | Scorecard