Toss: Zimbabwe. Colombo, delighted to welcome visitors after being shunned by the Australians and West Indies, offered Zimbabwe a warm welcome and the sort of security normally provided for visiting heads of state. It was not only the players who required reassurance; New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne hesitated about travelling to Sri Lanka. But he duly stood, though several of his decisions were criticised, notably when he sent back Andy Flower without calling for the TV replay, which suggested Flower had made his ground. The Zimbabweans were easily outclassed, though their popularity grew further when they agreed to stay on the field in drizzle as Sri Lanka reached their target with 13 overs in hand. Despite a shaky start when Kaluwitharana – suffering from cramp after keeping throughout Zimbabwe's innings – and Jayasuriya fell to Streak in the first five overs, Gurusinha and De Silva scored at more than a run a ball. Their stand of 172 in 27 overs was Sri Lanka's best for any wicket in one-day internationals; De Silva's 91, from 86 balls, was his country's highest World Cup innings to date and Gurusinha hit six sixes to equal the World Cup record shared by Viv Richards and Kapil Dev. Zimbabwe had also lost their openers cheaply, both run out; interest in their innings was maintained by Whittall and especially Campbell, who made 75.

Man of the Match: P. A. De Silva.

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