TORONTO, Oct 11: Sri Lanka’s latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis took three wickets and was named Man-of-the-Match as his side clinched a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first game of the Canada T20 event here on Friday.

Mendis finished with 3-15 from three overs after ripping the heart out of the Zimbabwe middle order including dismissing Prosper Utseya with his ‘carrom ball’, which turns away from the right-handers.

Tatenda Taibu, the former captain, finished on 45 to push Zimbabwe to 106-8 off 17 overs in match shortened by the damp outfield at the King’s City venue.

In reply, Sri Lanka openers Tillekeratne Dilshan and Mahela Udawatte put on 36 in four overs, before Udawatte went.

Left-arm spinner Ray Price bowled an economical spell which yielded two wickets including debutant Jeevantha Kulatunga and Dilshan.

Thilina Kandamby and skipper Mahela Jayawardene were both run out as Zimbabwe reduced the Asian side to 77-5 before Chamara Kapugedera and Farveez Maharoof saw their side home.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

S. Matsikenyeri c Fernando b Maharoof 1

H. Masakadza c Mendis b Maharoof 22

C.J. Chibhabha c Kapugedera b Thushara 13

T. Taibu not out 45

K.M. Dabengwa b Thushara 4

E. Chigumbura c Dilshan b Mendis 5

T. Maruma run out 3

P. Utseya st Dilshan b Mendis 4

R.W. Price c Jayawardene b Mendis 1

T. Mupariwa not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-2, NB-1) 6

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 17 overs) 106

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-27, 3-43, 4-57, 5-77, 6-80, 7-95, 8-97.

DID NOT BAT: C.B. Mpofu.

BOWLING: Fernando 3-0-27-0 (2w); Maharoof 4-0-18-2; Thushara 3-0-19-2; Dilhara 4-0-24-0 (1nb); Mendis 3-0-15-3.

SRI LANKA:

M.L. Udawatte c Taibu b Chigumbura 25

T.M. Dilshan b Price 33

H.G.J.M. Kulatunga b Price 8

S.H.T. Kandamby run out 1

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene run out 0

C.K. Kapugedera not out 18

M.F. Maharoof not out 13

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-5) 9

TOTAL (for five wkts, 16 overs) 107

FALL OF WKTS: 1-36, 2-64, 3-71, 4-71, 5-77

DID NOT BAT: T. Thushara, C.R.D. Fernando, B.A.W. Mendis, L.H.D. Dilhara.

BOWLING: Mpofu 2-0-26-0 (1w); Mupariwa 4-0-18-0 (3w); Chigumbura 1-0-10-1 (1w); Price 4-0-9-2; Utseya 3-0-19-0; Dabengwa 2-0-21-0.

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by five wickets.

UMPIRES: K. Bayney (Canada) and M.R. Benson (England).

TV UMPIRE: K. Shantikumar (Canada).

MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ajantha Mendis.—AFP