Dilshan Tillakaratne steered Sri Lanka to a scratchy four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their Champions Trophy match at the Oval on Tuesday but the Africans go home with pride restored after a spirited performance.
Sri Lanka passed their target of 192 but failed to better England's net run rate in Group D, meaning they will go out if their decisive match against the hosts on Friday and possibly Saturday is washed out.
All-rounder Elton Chigumbura took three wickets but Sri Lanka edged home with 37 balls to spare, Dilshan unbeaten on 25 after captain Marvan Atapattu had top scored with 43.
Chigumbura had earlier struck an aggressive 57 as Zimbabwe, who lost by 152 runs to England on Saturday, posted a respectable 191 all out.
The 18-year-old came in at 85 for six and with Prosper Utseya (31) put on an eighth-wicket stand of 64 before both perished late on trying to push the score past 200.
Sri Lanka seamer Farveez Maharoof took three for 38 while Nuwan Zoysa bagged three for 19 as he became the eighth Sri Lankan to take 100 one-day wickets.
Wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Chandana at backward point took fine catches in a professional fielding performance from the joint-holders.
A short shower at the blustery and almost deserted Oval drove the players from the field in the 21st over of the Zimbabwe innings and drizzle continued to hang in the air for most of the match.
The weather has already caused problems in a tournament controversially staged in the English autumn with overnight rain in Birmingham forcing Tuesday's other game between Pakistan and Kenya in Group C to be postponed until Wednesday.
