Zimbabwe stumbled to the lowest-to-date one-day international score of 35 Sunday at Harare Sports Club when Sri Lanka bundled them out in the third of five one-day internationals between the two teams.
Sri Lanka reached 40 for one wicket in reply to win the match by nine wickets within 10 overs.
The previous lowest score was by Canada, also victims of the Sri Lankans, in last year’s World Cup.
The latest collapse by Zimbabwe was all over in 18 overs and took just 89 minutes. The entire match lasted only two hours and 39 minutes and it required a mere 27,2 overs.
Fast bowler Chaminda Vaas moved his career total wickets to 301 when he took four wickets for 11 runs in nine overs. It was he who set the batting collapse in motion after Stuart Matsikenyere contrived to get run out for four to end the opening partnership.
Farveez Maharoof, making his one-day international debut, took three for three, including a wicket with his fourth ball.
New Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu was out first ball. He was one of four Zimbabwe batsmen who failed to get off the mark. The highest Zimbabwe scorer was Dion Ebrahim with seven.
Saman Jayantha put the Zimbabweans out of their misery with a quick undefeated 28. He finished things off by smashing Tinashe Panyangara for a four and a six at the beginning of the 10th over.
Zimbabwe is without 15 leading players, who continue to demand the reinstatement of Heath Streak as captain, changes to the national selection panel and what they consider a suitable system for solving player grievances.
They are due to hold a players’ meeting on Tuesday. — Sapa-AP