On this day: Zimbabwe record the lowest ODI total
On April 25, 2004, Zimbabwe recorded the lowest total in One-Day International against Sri Lanka. The Islanders travelled to the African nation for a five-match ODI series followed by two Tests that were played at Harare and Bulawayo.
Following successive defeats in the first two ODI matches, Sri Lanka were comfortably placed with a 2-0 lead. The Zimbabweans on the other hand needed to avoid a third straight loss as it would have not only handed them an unassailable lead but also would have helped the rivals clinch the series.
Speaking about the match, Marvan Atapattu, skipper of Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. What followed was a dismal show by the home side as they were sent packing for mere 35 runs in 18 overs of the contest.
Sri Lankan bowlers cause havoc
The opening duo of Stuart Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor got a combined score of eight runs before heading back to the dugout. On the other hand, Dion Ebrahim, who came in at no. 3, top-scored for the side with just seven runs to his name.
Like the top-order, the rest of the unit fell like a pack of cards thereby posting the lowest-ever score in a One Day International. Meanwhile, Chaminda Vaas returned a four-wicket haul whereas Farveez Maharoof got three and Dilhara Fernando got two wickets.
The pitch turned out to aid the pacers quite well, which also helped Vaas to breach the 300-wicket mark in ODIs in his nine-over spell. With hardly anything left to fight for, the home team tried hard to put some pressure on the Lankan Lions during the chase.
Douglas Hondo got one scalp in the form of Russel Arnold, who was dismissed for six runs. However, that seemed about it as Saman Jayantha and Mahela Jayawardene remained unbeaten with their knocks, scoring 28 and three runs respectively, to win the game for Sri Lanka with 244 balls remaining. The undesirable record is held by the Zimbabweans to date in the ODI format.
