Sri Lanka skittle Taibu's youngsters for 35

Zimbabwe 35 Sri Lanka 40 for 1 Sri Lanka win by nine wkts

Zimbabwe's inexperience was ruthlessly exposed by Sri Lanka as the tourists dismissed Tatenda Taibu's young side for the lowest one-day international score here yesterday.

The hosts, who have been forced to field a weakened side in the series due to a dispute between a number of senior players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, were bowled out for just 35 in 87 minutes.

It allowed Sri Lanka to cruise to a nine-wicket win which gives them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. Zimbabwe's total was one lower than that scored by Canada in the 2003 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Paarl.

Having started the rout with a run out, Sri Lanka used just three bowlers in taking the remaining nine wickets with Chaminda Vaas claiming 4 for 11, debutant Farveez Maharoof taking 3 for 3 and Dilhara Fernando 2 for 18.

In response, Saman Jayantha led the charge for the tourists, cracking 28 not out off 26 balls. He hit four fours and ended the match with a flourish by pulling a delivery from Tinashe Panyangara over square leg for six.

Zimbabwe's only success with the ball was the wicket of Russel Arnold - caught by keeper Taibu off the bowling of Douglas Hondo for six. Mahela Jayawardene was with Jayantha at the close on three not out.

* The Sri Lanka selectors have dropped the former captain Hashan Tillakaratne for the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. Tillakaratne stepped down as captain after Sri Lanka suffered their first ever 3-0 home series defeat against Australia last month. Elswehere, there were call-ups for middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera, the uncapped opener Ian Daniel and the wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene into the 19-man squad. The three Test specialists leave for Zimbabwe today to arrive in time for Sri Lanka's three-day practice match against Zimbabwe A on 1 May, the only warm-up before the first Test in Harare starting on 6 May.

HARARE SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka won toss

ZIMBABWE INNINGS
S Matsikenyeri run out 4
B R M Taylor c Dilshan b Vaas 4
D D Ebrahim c Sangakkara b C R D Fernand 7
T Taibu lbw b C R D Fernando 0
E Chigumbura b Vaas 0
A Maregwede b Vaas 2
V Sibanda c Dilshan b Maharoof 4
M L Nkala not out 3
P Utseya lbw b Vaas 0
D T Hondo c Sangakkara b Maharoof 4
T Panyangara c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0
Extras (lb3 w4) 7
Total (18 overs) 35

Fall: 1-5, 2-18, 3-18, 4-18, 5-19, 6-27, 7-27, 8-28, 9-35.

Bowling: Vaas 9-4-11-4; C R D Fernando 6-2-18-2; Maharoof 3-1-3-3.

SRI LANKA INNINGS
S Jayantha not out 28
R P Arnold c Taibu b Hondo 6
D P M Jayawardene not out 3
Extras (w3) 3
Total (for 1, 9.2 overs) 40

Fall: 1-23

Did not bat: S T Jayasuriya, M S Atapattu, K C Sangakkara, T M Dilshan, W P U J C Vaas, M F Maharoof, C R D Fernando, H M R K B Herath.

Bowling: Hondo 5-0-11-1; Panyangara 4.2-0-29-0.

Umpires: D J Harper and I D Robinson

Man of the match: W P U J C Vaas (Sri Lanka).

LOWEST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL TOTALS

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka (18 overs) 35 Harare 2004

Canada v Sri Lanka (18.4 overs) 36 Paarl 2002/03

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka (15.4 overs) 38 Colombo 2001/02

Pakistan v West Indies (19.5 overs) 43 Cape Town 1992/93

Canada v England (40.3 overs) 45 Manchester 1979

Namibia v Australia (14 overs) 45 Potchefstroom 2002/03