HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Ajantha Mendis produced extraordinary bowling figures of six for eight to lead Sri Lanka to a crushing 82-run win over Zimbabwe in the opening Twenty20 World Cup match yesterday.

Mendis, returning to the side following nine months out due to a back injury, bowled with his usual control and tantalising length to surpass his own Twenty20 record figures of six for 16 against Australia in 2011.
Mendis’s namesake Jeevan took three for 24 as the Zimbabweans were skittled out for just 100 in the Group C match.
Sri Lanka, put in to bat, were powered to their total of 182 for four by a 94-run fourth-wicket stand off 51 balls between Kumar Sangakkara and Jeevan Mendis.
Sangakkara scored 44 off 26 balls with two fours and a six before being run-out and Mendis finished on 43 not out including four fours and a six.
An opening partnership of 37 between Hamilton Mazakadza and Vusi Sibanda was Zimbabwe’s only real resistance against such class bowling.
Although Zimbabwe managed three run-outs, they paid a heavy price for their poor catching and ground fielding along with a lack of discipline by their bowlers.
Debutant Dilshan Munaweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan gave Sri Lanka a solid start, sharing a stand of 54 off 39 balls.
Munaweera, dropped on eight and 12 by Malcolm Waller, was eventually run-out for 17.
Waller later made amends when he ran out Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for 13 and Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka are bidding to end their 16-year wait for a second major title after winning the 50-over World Cup in 1996.