A Zimbabwean batting collapse ensured Sri Lanka [Images] an easy win in Harare on Thursday in the first of the five one-day internationals.

Muttiah Muralitharan [Images] took 4 for 14 and Ajantha Mendis [Images] finished with figures of three for 26 as the hosts slumped from 124 from 3 to 127 all out.

Only Tatenda Taibu withstood the ruins with an unbeaten 36.

The visitors scored 130 for 4 in reply to win by six wickets and take a 1-0 series lead.

Mahela Udawatte (38) and Kumar Sangakkara (46 not out) were the main contributors in the Sri Lankan total.