Who would have predicted that: Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas records best ODI figures of 8-3-19-8

In our feature series - Who would have predicted that? – we are looking back at matches where there were big upsets or extraordinary individual performances that turned matches on their head.

The Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo saw the shortest lasting ODI in 2001 as Sri Lanka bowled out Zimbabwe for just 38 runs within 15.4 overs on the back of Chaminda Vaas' jaw-dropping figures. The team then chased down the target within 5 overs as the match lasted exactly 20 overs altogether.

Match Summary 

Zimbabwe 38 (15.4 overs) - Stuart Carlisle 16 (35), Craig Wishart 6 (17); Chaminda Vaas 8/19 (8), Muttiah Muralitharan 2/1 (0.4)

Sri Lanka 40/1(4.2 overs) - Marvan Atapattu 23* (16), Sanath Jayasuriya 13* (7); Heath Streak 1/26 (2.2), Travis Friend 0/14 (2)

Result - Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets (with 274 balls remaining)

The situation in Sri Lanka was far from peaceful and Colombo police authorities were considering the imposition of a post-election citywide curfew. Their job was made easier as Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI against Zimbabwe in two hours.

Chaminda Vaas picked up the first 8 of the 10 Zimbabwe wickets to fall. He was headed towards a 10-wicket haul before Muttiah Muralitharan picked up two wickets in a matter of four deliveries to bowl out Zimbabwe in just about 15 overs.

The score of 38 was the lowest-ever ODI total, surpassing Pakistan's 43 against West Indies at Cape Town in 1992/3. Vaas became the bowler with the best ODI figures, overtaking his team-mate Muttiah Muralitharan's 7/30 against India.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Dion Ebrahim, 0.1 ov), 2-11 (Grant Flower, 4.3 ov), 3-11 (Andy Flower, 4.5 ov), 4-27 (Stuart Carlisle, 10.3 ov), 5-27 (Craig Wishart, 10.4 ov), 6-27 (Tatenda Taibu, 10.5 ov), 7-29 (Heath Streak, 12.4 ov), 8-32 (Mluleki Nkala, 14.3 ov), 9-38 (Travis Friend, 15.2 ov), 10-38 (Henry Olonga, 15.4 ov)

This was the best present for Vaas' wife who was celebrating her birthday alone at home.

It took Sri Lanka just 26 deliveries to chase down the target, if it can be called one at all. Avishka Gunawardene was the only wicket to fall as he was caught lbw by Heath Streak.

Marvan Atapattu struck four boundaries for his 23 off 16 deliveries and took the team home to a dominating 9-wicket victory along with Sanath Jayasuriya.

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Avishka Gunawardene, 0.5 ov)

Teams

Sri Lanka - Sanath Jayasuriya (c), Avishka Gunawardene, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Nuwan Zoysa, Suresh Perera, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas 

Zimbabwe - Dion Ebrahim, Grant Flower, Stuart Carlisle (c), Andy Flower (wk), Craig Wishart, Dougie Marillier, Tatenda Taibu, Heath Streak, Mluleki Nkala, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga

Match Details

Match: SL vs ZIM, 1st Match, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, 2001 

Date: Saturday, December 08, 2001 

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl 

Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo 

Umpires: Nandasena Pathirana, Gamini Silva 

Third Umpire: Asoka De Silva 

Match Referee: Raman Subba Row 

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