A Zimbabwean batting collapse ensured Sri Lanka an easy win in Harare on Thursday in the first of the five one-day internationals.
Muttiah Muralitharan took 4 for 14 and Ajantha Mendis finished with figures of three for 26 as the hosts slumped from 124 from 3 to 127 all out.
Only Tatenda Taibu withstood the ruins with an unbeaten 36.
The visitors scored 130 for 4 in reply to win by six wickets and take a 1-0 series lead.
Mahela Udawatte (38) and Kumar Sangakkara (46 not out) were the main contributors in the Sri Lankan total.