Sensational Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis has become the fastest bowler to take 50 wickets in one-day internationals as Sri Lanka crushed Zimbabwe by 130 runs in their first match of the tri-series tournament in Dhaka.

Set to score a reserved 211 for victory, Zimbabwe were all out for 80 in 28.2 overs with just Stuart Matsikenyeri reaching double figures.

Mendis took three for 15, finishing his 50-wicket haul in his 19th ODI and enhancing the record of India's Ajit Agarkar, who took 23 matches to reach the landmark.

Medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera teared through the Zimbabwean top-order to take three for 13, while veteran Muttiah Muralitharan claimed two wickets for the Lankans.

Earlier, Sri Lanka made 210 from their 50 overs although Edward Rainsford's impressive bowling reduced them to 97-5. It was Mathew's first ODI half-century in his third match for the Lankan team. 21 year old, Mathews put on a crucial 69 run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mubarak, hitting two towering sixes and a solitary four during his tolerant innings.

He then added a further 44 with Thilan Thushara to ensure Sri Lanka's bowlers had a decent total to defend.

Speaking on Mathews at the prize ceremony, an elated skipper Mahela Jayawardene said, “We always knew that Angelo has got potential. He has proved that over and over with the A team and Under-19 side. We had the opportunity to get him in the squad, [and] he paid a lot of dividend to us.”

Scores in brief:

Sri Lanka: 210/6 in 50 overs, A Matews 52*, Tharanga 42, Rainsford 3/41.
Zimbabwe: 80 all out in 28.2 overs, Matsikenyeri b Mendis 15, Kulasekara 3/13, Mendis 3/15, Muralitharan 2/4.
Man of the Match: A Mathews (Sri-lanka).