TORONTO: 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 opening game of the Al-Barakah four-nation Twenty20 tournament here on Friday.

Mendis took four wickets 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.

Sri Lanka openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Udawatte put on 36 in four overs, before Udawatte was caught behind.

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.

Mendis became the first Sri Lankan bowler to clinch four wickets in an innings. The International Cricket Council emerging player of the year took a wicket in his first over, the game’s ninth, and finished with 4-15 in his allotted four overs. The match was reduced to 17 overs because of a one-hour delay due to a wet outfield at the Maple Leaf Cricket Facility.

This was the first Twenty20 international for both teams since the inaugural World Cup in South Africa in September 2007 and just Zimbabwe’s fourth match overall.

Zimbabwe’s inexperience showed in this contest, in which they were limited to 106-8.

Talented wicketkeeper/batsman Tatenda Taibu, who made the decision to join his teammates on the tour just hours before their departure, was the game’s leading scorer with 40 off 40 balls. His 26-minute knock included five boundaries.

Needing just over six runs an over for their sixth Twenty20 International win in nine matches, Sri Lanka, led by openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) and Mahela Udawatte (24), reached the required target in the 16th over.

Score board

Sri Lanka won toss

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 40

K M Dabengwa b Thushara 9

E Chigumbura c Dilshan b Mendis 5

T Maruma run out (Jayawardene) 3

*P Utseya st Dilshan b Mendis 4

R W Price c Jayawardene b Mendis 1

T Mupariwa not out 2

Extras (lb3, w2, nb1) 6

Total (8 wkts, 17 overs) 106

Did not bat: C B Mpofu

Fall: 1-11, 2-27, 3-43, 4-57, 5-77, 6-80, 7-95, 8-97

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 (Maruma) 1

*D P M D Jayawardene run out (Price) 0

C K Kapugedera not out 18

M F Maharoof not out 13

Extras (lb4, w5) 9

Total (5 wkts, 16 overs) 107

Did not bat: C R D Fernando, T Thushara, B A W Mendis, L H D Dilhara

Fall: 1-36, 2-64, 3-71, 4-71, 5-77

Bowling: Mpofu 2-0-25-0 (1w); Mupariwa 4-0-19-0 (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 5 wickets

Points: Sri Lanka 2, Zimbabwe 0

Man of the Match: Ajantha Mendis

T20I debuts: Dilhara Lokuhettige, Thilina Kandamby, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara and Mahela Udawatte (Sri Lanka); Timycen Maruma, Chris Mpofu and Ray Price (Zimbabwe)

Umpires: K Bayney and M R Benson (England). Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)

Note: Match reduced to 17 overs a side after delayed start due to wet outfield

Forthcoming matches: Saturday — Canada v Zimbabwe (7.30pm Pakistan Standard Time), Sri Lanka v Pakistan (11.30pm PST). Sunday (today) — Pakistan v Zimbabwe (7.30pm PST), Canada v Sri Lanka (11.30pm PST)