Harare:  Prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan sparked a Zimbabwe collapse as Sri Lanka won their first one-day international by six wickets in Harare on Thursday.

Zimbabwe, sent in to bat, had reached a respectable 124 for three after 27 overs before Muralitharan claimed three wickets in a single over.

Fellow spinner Ajantha Mendis then took two in the following over and Zimbabwe collapsed in a heap, losing their last seven wickets for three runs in 3.5 overs.

Muralitharan took four for 14 in four overs and Mendis three for 26 in six.

Sri Lanka needed 33.2 overs to chase down their target of 128, with Mahela Udawatte and Kumar Sangakarra combining in a second-wicket stand of 56.

Agencies

Tags: sri lanka zimbabwe 2008, sri lanka tour of zimbabwe, odi series, muralitharan.