Both seamers exploited conditions that favoured the bowling side as Sri Lanka needed just 18.4 overs to bowl out the international minnows.

It was the lowest ever score in ODI history, surpassing the 38 scored by Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in 2001 when Vaas took the first eight-for in history.

Vaas, who became the tournament's highest wicket in the process, swung the white ball dangerously and maintained an impeccable line, claiming three for 15 in seven overs.

Nissanka, playing in place of the injured Pulasthi Gunaratne, moved the ball off the seam and troubled the Canadians with his extra pace and bounce, finishing with the career best figures of four for 12 from seven overs.

Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan then mopped up the tail.

The procession started in the second over of the morning as John Davison (0) edged a good delivery from Nissanka that cut back between bat and pad.

Former Guyana batsman Fazil Sattaur (0) looked completely at odds against Vaas's inswing and could have been adjudged lbw four balls before he was given his final marching orders.

Vaas then went on to have Desmond Chumney caught at the wicket and leading batsman Ian Bilcliff trapped lbw in consecutive overs.

When Nissanka grabbed two wickets in two balls to dismiss NA de Groot and Ishwar Maraj, the Canadians were in complete disarray on 12 for six.

Joseph Harris (9), the skipper, offered a flicker of hope with the brace of boundaries before trampling on his stumps as he tried to pull a short delivery.

Dilhara Fernando took the wickets of fellow Sri Lankan Sanjay Thuraisingam (6) and wicket-keeper Ashish Bagai (6) before Muttiah Muralitharan sealed the world record by clean bowling Austin Codrington (0).

Sri Lanka named the same side that trounced Bangladesh by ten wickets last wicket, resisting the temptation to experiment.

Sri Lanka are the only unbeaten side in Pool B and are tipped to qualify for the Super Sixes assuming their games against Canada and Kenya are not rain-affected.

They would have thus been delighted to see the clear blue skies over Paarl and hear a weather forecast that promises a full day of cricket.

Should Sri Lanka win against the minnows, they will then need to overcome either West Indies or South Africa to confirm their place in the second round.

Even if they lose both games, they have a chance of progressing if they maintain a healthy Net Run Rate (NRR) – today’s game provides an opportunity to do just that.

Canada created the shock of the tournament thus far when they defeated Bangladesh by 60 runs. They then fought hard against the Kenyans.

Canada team:

D Chumney, JM Davison, AF Sattaur, IS Billcliff, NA de Groot, *JV Harris, I Maraj, +A Bagai, S Thuraisingam, A Codrington, BB Seebaran.

Sri Lanka team:

*ST Jayasuriya, MS Atapattu, HP Tillakaratne, PA de Silva, DPMD Jayawardene, +KC Sangakkara, RP Arnold, WPUJC Vaas,M Muralitharan, CRD Fernando, RAP Nissanka.