Rangana Herath recorded the best figures by a bowler in a Test in Zimbabwe as Sri Lanka completed a 257-run victory in the second Test at Harare Sports Club on Thursday to sweep the series 2-0.

Sri Lanka went into the final day needing just three wickets to wrap up the match, and Herath required less than an hour to claim them as he finished with eight wickets in the second innings, bowling Zimbabwe out for 233.

The left-arm spinner's 8 for 63 were the best figures in an innings by a player in Zimbabwe, while his 13 for 152 were the best figures in a match.

"I am always trying to improve," said the 38-year-old. "I don't think about records and will take each series as it comes."

Zimbabwe's only real hope of pushing Sri Lanka on day five rested with Craig Ervine, who resumed on 65 not out with Zimbabwe on 180 for seven in pursuit of 491 forvictory.

But the left-hander was the first batsman to fall as Herath had him well caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at slip for 72.

Carl Mumba was next to go, trapped lbw by the left-arm spinner, who also had Chris Mpofti in the same fashion to bring the game to a dose.

Zimbabwe lost both games by large margins, but took both Tests into the final day and nearly secured a draw in the first match.

"We're happy they've gone five days, and there were a lot of positives for us," said Zimbabwe captain Grame Cremer.

"But a lot of the mistakes we made at crudal times, like dropping silly catches, changed the games in a huge way. We need to improve on that."

The two teams will play each other in a one-day international on Monday, when a triangular series also involving the West Indies gets underway at the same venue.

SCORES IN BRIEF

SRI LANKA: First innings 504; ZIMBABWE: First innings 272 SRI JANKA: Second innings 258 for 9 deci

ZIMBABWE: Second innings 233 (Ervine 72, Williams 45, Moor 20, Mpofu 20; Herath 8-63)

Result: Sri Lanka won by 257 runs and clinched 2-match series 2-0.

Player-of-the-match: Rangana Herath. Player-of-the-series: Dimuth Karunaratne.