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The Sri Lankans, in a smashing victory, defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in just 108 minutes in the LG Abans triangular one-day international series at the SSC grounds Saturday. It took Sri Lanka just over an hour and a half to bowl Zimbabwe out for just 38 runs in 4.2 overs. In an unexpectedly easy start for the Sri Lankans, the Zimbabweans managed to set a low score world record; the previous record being Pakistan in 1993 in Cape Town against the West Indies who were 43 all out in 19.5 overs. After a sweeping victory against the West Indies (3-0) in the Tests, the Sri Lankans took on Zimbabwe at the SSC grounds at 10 am today as favourites. Regardless of their recent victories, both Coach Dave Whatmore and Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya expressed unwavering determination to win strongly. “In this day and age, Zimbabwe and West Indies aren’t easy matches, so we will be trating them as tough as anyone,” said Whatmore. Expressing similar views, Jayasuriya said, “We can’t take any side lightly in the one-day game. Although West Indies and Zimbabwe are not rated very high in the one-day rankings, on the particular day whoever does well, will win. We can’t underestimate either of them.” Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first game of the series. Chaminda Vaas opened the series in a smashing way as he took the first wicket with his very first ball that took out Dion Ebrahim. Vaas’s record breaking spree continued as he picked up eight for 19 in eight overs, which beat Muttiah Muralitharan’s previous world record of seven for 30 against India at Sharjah in 2000/2001. Today’s victory is sure to further boost the Sri Lankan team’s confidence, which Jayasuriya expressed as “very high” before the match began.
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