Sri Lanka cruise to win over Zimbabwe in opener

Published September 19, 2012
Sri Lankan fans cheer during the match. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lankan fans cheer during the match. -Photo by AFP
The Sri Lankan cricket team with school pupils listen to the national anthems before the start of the first ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. -Photo by AFP
The Sri Lankan cricket team with school pupils listen to the national anthems before the start of the first ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. -Photo by AFP
Zimbabwe cricketer Kyle Jarvis (R) throws the ball as Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara (L) runs between the wickets. -Photo by AFP
Zimbabwe cricketer Kyle Jarvis (R) throws the ball as Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara (L) runs between the wickets. -Photo by AFP
Zimbabwe's cricketer Hamilton Masakadza (L) is bowled out by Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis. -Photo by AFP
Zimbabwe's cricketer Hamilton Masakadza (L) is bowled out by Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis (C) celebrates after he dismissed Zimbabwe cricketer Prosper Utseya. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis (C) celebrates after he dismissed Zimbabwe cricketer Prosper Utseya. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis celebrates taking the wicket of Zimbabwe's Elton Chigumbura. -Photo by Reuters
Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis celebrates taking the wicket of Zimbabwe's Elton Chigumbura. -Photo by Reuters
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot. -Photo by AFP
Zimbabwe's Chris Mpofu, third right and Craig Ervine, left celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Dilshan Munaweera. -Photo by AP
Zimbabwe's Chris Mpofu, third right and Craig Ervine, left celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Dilshan Munaweera. -Photo by AP
Zimbabwe's Malcolm Waller drops a catch off Sri Lanka's Dilshan Munaweera. -Photo by AP
Zimbabwe's Malcolm Waller drops a catch off Sri Lanka's Dilshan Munaweera. -Photo by AP
Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara, right removes the bails to dismiss Zimbabwe's captain Brendan Taylor. -Photo by AP
Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara, right removes the bails to dismiss Zimbabwe's captain Brendan Taylor. -Photo by AP
Zimbabwe's captain Brendan Taylor removes bails to dismiss Sri Lanka's  Kumar Sangakkara. -Photo by AP
Zimbabwe's captain Brendan Taylor removes bails to dismiss Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara. -Photo by AP
Sri Lanka's cricketers from left, Tillakaratne Dilshan, captain Mahela Jayawardena, and Lasith Malinga, shake hands with Zimbabwe's cricketers after Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 82 runs. -Photo by AP
Sri Lanka's cricketers from left, Tillakaratne Dilshan, captain Mahela Jayawardena, and Lasith Malinga, shake hands with Zimbabwe's cricketers after Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 82 runs. -Photo by AP

Spinner Ajantha Mendis took a record six wickets for just eight runs as hosts Sri Lanka humbled Zimbabwe in the opening match of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

Mendis, 27, marked his international return after an eight-month injury lay-off with the devastating haul to wreck Zimbabwe for 100 in 17.3 overs in the Group C match in Hambantota.

Zimbabwe could never cope with Mendis’s unreadable deliveries and they collapsed like a pack of cards in pursuit of the daunting target of 183 set by Sri Lanka at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium. -Photos by agencies

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