Paarl (South Africa), Feb 19: Sri Lanka defeated Canada by nine wickets in the World Cup Pool B match at Boland Park today after bowling their rivals out for one-day cricket`s lowest score of 36. Sri Lanka`s new ball pair of Chaminda Vaas (3-15) and Prabath Nissanka (4-12) routed Canada for a record lowest 36 in a World Cup match today.
The total beat the 38 all out by Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in Colombo in a one-day international during the 2001-02 season. The previous lowest total in the World Cup also belongs to Canada when it was shot out for 45 by England at Old Trafford in 1979.
Put in to bat by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, Canada was dismissed in 18.4 overs after Nissanka began the slaughter with the wicket of in-form John Davison in the second over.
Vaas and Nissanka missed out on hat-tricks as the Canadians capitulated against some sustained seam and swing bowling.
Five batsmen perished without scoring while skipper Joe Harris became only the fourth batsman in World Cup cricket to be dismissed hit-wicket.
Harris dislodged the bails with his bat as he attempted a wild swing against Nissanka after hitting two boundaries in his nine after Canada had crashed to 12 runs for six wickets in the 10th over.
Even Vaas, who took four wickets in his first over in the match against Bangladesh - including a hat-trick with the first three balls - was overshadowed by Nissanka`s career-best figures.
Nissanka took his wickets in the first seven overs before Jayasuriya made the first changes. Dilhara Fernando took 2-4 while offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowled Austin Codrington to end the innings. Bureau Report