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1st ODI: Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe

November 20, 2008 23:13 IST

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

Muttiah Muralitharan took 4 for 14 and Ajantha Mendis 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.