ON April 25, 2004, at the Harare Sports Club, in the third One-Day International of a five-match series, Sri Lanka’s bowlers pushed a young Zimbabwe side to new depths by bowling them out for a record low total of 35, one that remains the lowest ever in the ODIs. The crisis that engulfed Zimbabwe cricket spilled over to the home bilateral series as the contests failed to attract crowds. The humiliation, witnessed by an unfortunate few hundred shocked home fans, began in the fourth over after Sri Lanka inserted Zimbabwe and opening batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri was run out for four. Brendan Taylor and Dion Ebrahim added 13 runs for the third wicket which turned out to be the highest partnership of the innings.
Ebrahim was the next to fall for seven and ended as the joint top scorer along with extras. The pacers exploited the helpful pitch to the hilt, toying with their young opponent which counted Douglas Hondo at 24 as the oldest in the playing XI. Chaminda Vaas picked up 4 for 11, Farveez Mahroof scalped three batsmen in three overs and Dilhara Fernando finished with two wickets.
Four batsmen, including captain Tatenda Taibu, failed to trouble the scoreboard. None reached double-digits. Zimbabwe, however, had the chance to avoid an unwanted record against their names when the score reached 35 with two wickets remaining. They had to score just two runs to edge ahead of the previous record of 36, by Canada (also against Sri Lanka).
But Hondo and Tinashe Panyangara were ensnared by debutant Mahroof in the space of three deliveries with the score static at 35. Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu employed only three bowlers, meaning the other debutant Rangana Herath had to wait more before getting a chance to bowl in ODIs.
Sri Lanka put an end to their misery by overhauling the target in 9.2 overs for the loss of one wicket. Saman Jayantha alone scored an unbeaten 28 – equal to what the 11 Zimbabwe batsmen could muster among themselves. Vaas, who became the sixth bowler to pick 300 ODI wickets, was chosen as the Man of the Match. Sri Lanka went on to complete a 5-0 series whitewash.
Top-10 lowest ODI totals
Score Opposition Overs
1 Zimbabwe 35 Sri Lanka (2004) 18
2 Canada 36 Sri Lanka (2003) 18.4
3 Zimbabwe 38 Sri Lanka (2001) 15.4
4 Sri Lanka 43 South Africa (2012) 20.1
5Pakistan 43 West Indies (1993) 19.5
6 Zimbabwe 44 Bangladesh (2009) 24.5
7 Canada 45 England (1979) 40.3
8 Namibia 45 Australia (2003) 14
9 India 54 Sri Lanka (2000) 26.3
10 West Indies 54 South Africa (2004) 23.2 . -Times of India
