Spinner Ajantha Mendis [Images] became the fastest bowler to take 50 wickets in one-day internationals as Sri Lanka [Images] defeated Zimbabwe by 130 runs in their first match of the tri-series tournament in Dhaka on Monday.
Set to score a modest 211 for victory, Zimbabwe were all out for 80 in 28.2 overs with just Stuart Matsikenyeri reaching double figures.
Mendis took three for 15, completing his 50-wicket haul in his 19th one-day international and bettering the record of India's Ajit Agarkar [Images] who took 23 matches to reach the milestone.
Medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera ripped through the Zimbabwean top-order to take three for 13 while Muttiah Muralitharan [Images] claimed two wickets.
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews was named man-of-the-match. The former under-19 captain toiled hard on a slow wicket to hit an unbeaten 52 off 96 balls to lift Sri Lanka to 210 for six.
Upul Tharanga hit 43 and Jehan Mubarak made 31, sharing in a a stand of 69 with Mathews after Sri Lanka had stuttered to 97 for five.
Zimbabwe beat hosts Bangladesh by 38 runs in the opening match on Saturday. Sri Lanka will play Bangladesh on Jan. 14 in their next match.
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