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Galle: Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in first ODI at Galle International Stadium on Friday and takes 1-0 lead in five match series.
This was the highest ever run chase in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe first win over the hosts in any form.
Before this no visiting team has ever successfully chased a 300-plus target in Sri Lanka in a 50-over game.
To chase 317, no one expected Zimbabwe to beat the odds and pull off something so spectacular. Riding on Solomon Mire’s maiden international century, Zimbabwe registered the first successful chase over 300 in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe suffered an early blow when they lost Hamilton Masakadza for 5, in the third over, to Lasith Malinga.
Craig Ervine then departed in the 11th over, but the 27-year-old Mire, playing in his 18th ODI, refused to budge the usual way. He counterattacked and was aided by dropped chances as he stroked away to a 96-ball 112. Mire and Sean Williams added 161 from 133 balls to set it up for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe suffered a scare when they lost Mire and Williams in the 33rd and 35th over respectively to Asela Gunaratne’s medium pace. However, Raza and Malcolm Waller ensured there was no drama as they continued counterattacking.
The duo added unbeaten 102 for the fifth wicket off 80 balls, and were particularly harsh on slow left-arm spinner Aponso, who eventually leaked 77 from his 8.4 overs. Zimbabwe cruised to the target in the 48th over.
Earlier, Kusal Mendis blasted 86 off 80 balls as Sri Lanka plundered 316-5 off Zimbabwe's lacklustre attack.
Upul Tharanga hit 79 and Danushka Gunathilaka made 60 as Sri Lanka forged ahead after captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and chose to bat in the first one day international at Galle for 17 years.
Mendis and Tharanga each hit eight fours and a six in their quickfire innings that brought the crowd to its feet.
Sri Lanka packed their side with slow bowlers for the game, with off-spinner Akila Dananjaya playing his first international since 2013.
Zimabwe made one change to the side that beat Scotland in their last one-day game, bringing in Donald Tiripano for fellow right-arm seamer Chris Mpofu.
The two countries will also play a Test during the tour.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 316 for 5 (Mendis 86, Tharanga 79*, Gunathilaka 60)
Zimbabwe - 322 for 4 (Mire 112, Raza 67*, Williams 65)
Result - Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
