Sri Lanka beat a severely weakened Zimbabwe by 12 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis scoring method after rain disrupted the first One-Day International in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Sir Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara scored an impressive 73 not out off 72 balls to guide his side to 144 for four when bad light ended the match after 27 overs of their innings while chasing a revised target of 173 from 33 overs.
The visitors were ahead of the run target under the Duckworth-Lewis system.
Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu scored a career-best 96 not out to rescue his side and post a respectable 211 for six after 50 overs, before rain disrupted the match in the seventh over of Sri Lanka's innings.
The 20-year-old wicketkeeper, the first black player to captain his country, came to the crease after the home side had lost both openers with only a run on the board, then steered his team to the respectable total after they slumped to 79 for five.
Zimbabwe were fielding a weakened side after 15 white players, including former captain Heath Streak, made themselves unavailable as part of an ongoing battle with their board over several issues, including the composition of the selection panel.
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe
V.Sibanda c Sangakkara b Zoysa 0
B.Taylor b Vaas 0
D.Ebrahim c Jayawardene b Zoysa 13
T.Taibu not out 96
E.Chigumbura c Muralitharan b Zoysa 13
S.Matsikenyeri st Sangakkara b Muralitharan 6
A.Maregwede c Dilshan b Chandana 37
M.Nkala not out 33.
Extras: (b-2, lb-5, nb-3, w-3) 13.
Total: (for six wickets, 50 overs) 211
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-47, 4-64, 5-79, 6-154
Did not bat: T.Panyangara, D.Hondo, P.Utseya
Bowling: Vaas 10-5-31-1, Zoysa 7-2-21-3, Kulasekara 3-0-26-0, Muralitharan 10-1-47-1, Chandana 10-0-43-1, Jayasuriya 8-0-31-0, Arnold 2-1-5-0
Sri Lanka
S.Jayasuriya c Ebrahim b Panyangara 9
M.Atapattu lbw Hondo 0
K.Sangakkara not out 73
M.Jayawardene c Panyangara b Hondo 5
N.Zoysa c Taylor b Chigumbura 14
T.Dilshan not out 35.
Extras: (lb-3, w-5) 8.
Total: (for four wickets, 27 overs) 144
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-44, 4-77.
Did not bat: R.Arnold, N.Kulasekara, M.Muralitharan, C.Vaas, U.Chandana.
Bowling: Hondo 7-1-34-2 (w-3), Panyangara 5-1-22-1, Chigumbera 5-0-32-1, Nkala 6-0-34-0 (w-1), Taibu 4-0-19-0 (w-1).
Result: Sri Lanka won by 12 runs (D/L method)
Second match: April 22, Bulawayo
Third match: April 25, Harare
Fourth match: April 27, Harare
Fifth match: April 29, Harare
