1st Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Colombo, 8 Dec 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st Match: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Colombo, 8 Dec 2001
Charlie Austin

: Pre-game,
Sri Lanka innings: Match close,
Zimbabwe innings: Innings close,

SRI LANKA WIN GAME AFTER JUST 108 MINUTES

Sri Lanka won the first match of the LG Abans ODI triangular series by nine-wickets when they overhauled Zimbabwe’s paltry 38 in just 4.2 overs.

Sri Lanka had an early scare when opener Avishka Gunawardene was trapped lbw by Heath Streak in the first over without scoring.

But Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan wasted no further time, hitting six boundaries, as they sped towards the target. Atapattu scored 23 off 16 balls and Jayasuriya 13 from seven balls.

CHAMINDA VAAS GOES ON RECORD BREAKING SPREE

Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas followed his best Test figures in the final Test against West Indies on Monday with a world record breaking bowling display at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Saturday.

The records tumbled as Vaas recorded the best ever bowling figures in Test cricket, the first ever hat-trick by a Sri Lankan in one-day cricket and Zimbabwe were dismissed for the lowest ever total in ODI history.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 38 in just 15.4 overs and 87 minutes, which was less than the previous 43 run record lowest total scored by Pakistan against West Indies at Cape Town in 1992/3.

Vaas exploited the early morning moisture well and swung the white ball prodigiously to pick up eight for 19 in eight overs to beat Muttiah Muralitharan’s previous world record of seven for 30 against India at Sharjah in 2000/01.

Vaas’s wicket-taking started with his very first ball which swung back onto the toe of opener Dion Ebrahim (0).

Zimbabwe then added 11 runs for a second wicket – a noteworthy contribution in the context – before Vaas dismissed both Flower brothers in his third over. Grant Flower (1) was bowled with an inswinger and Andy Flower (0) was caught behind for a second ball duck (11 for three).

A further 16 runs were added by captain Stuart Carlisle and middle order batsman Craig Wishart but Vaas ended it with a hat-trick.

Carlisle (16) was well-caught at third man by Suresh Perera as he tried to drive through the covers on the up, Wishart (6) was trapped lbw by and inswinger and Tatendra Taibu (0) - clearly not watching from the dressing room - was trapped lbw as he padded up (27 for six).

Heath Streak was also trapped lbw without scoring, one of four ducks in the innings, whilst Mluleki Nkala (1) was caught behind (32 for eight).

Then, in the 16th over of the innings, Muralitharan was introduced and he needed just four balls to wrap up the innings as Travis friend was bowled (4) and Henry Olonga (0) was caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene.

SANATH JAYASURIYA WINS THE TOSS AND FIELDS AT SSC

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first game of the LG Abans ODI triangular series at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Saturday.

Jayasuriya gambled on their being some early morning moisture following recent rains in Colombo, but the pitch looks dry and flat, so if Zimbabwe can weather the opening overs then should be able to post a decent score.

Sri Lanka recalled all-rounder Suresh Perera and are playing three fast bowlers and two spinners. Kumar Sangakkara will keep wicket.

Zimbabwe picked all-rounder Mluleki Nkala ahead of Trevor Gripper, the only other injury free player in the 14-man squad. Gary Brent (shoulder) and Sean Ervine (back) were both unavailable for selection.

Sri Lanka:

Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardene, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa

Zimbabwe:

Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Craig Wishart, Douglas Marillier, Tatendra Taibu, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, Mluleki Nkala,