Sri Lanka had little trouble capitalising on Zimbabwe's batting capitulation, reaching its victory target in a little over 33 overs to win the first one-day international by six wickets in Harare.
The hosts lost their last seven wickets for three runs - including six successive ducks - to be bowled out for only 127 by Sri Lanka spinners Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis.
And despite the early run out of Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka cruised to victory with Kumar Sangakkara (46 not out) leading the way.
Zimbabwe seemed well placed at 3-124 but collapsed to be all out in only 31 of its scheduled 50 overs as Murali (4-14) and Mendis (3-26) ran riot.
It was the introduction of Murali which set the slide in irresistible motion, with wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu powerless to stop the procession of potential partners.
Former captain Taibu finished unbeaten on 36, having shared a 41-run fourth-wicket stand with Stuart Matsikenyeri which appeared to be putting the hosts on course for a 200-plus total.
Instead, once Matsikenyeri was bowled by Murali the Sri Lankan spin twins were unstoppable.
A shellshocked Zim side got the start it needed as Tharanga was run out after just three balls.
But a partnership of 57 between Mahela Udawatte (38) and Sangakkara settled Sri Lankan nerves, before Elton Chigumbura removed the opener.
Spinner Ray Price bagged a couple of wickets of his own but could not match the devastation caused by Murali and Mendis and, with the scores level, Sangakkara struck the ball to the long-on boundary to bring up Sri Lanka's victory.
The second match of the five-game series takes place at the same venue on Saturday.
Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, First One-Day International, Harare
Zimbabwe innings
H Masakadza run out (Tharanga) 15 (32)
V Sibanda c Kapugedera b Kulasekara 9 (24)
C Chibhabha c Kulasekara b Maharoof 25 (35)
T Taibu not out 36 (58)
S Matsikenyeri b Muralitharan 21 (20)
E Chigumbura lbw b Muralitharan 0 (1)
T Maruma c Kapugedera b Muralitharan 0 (4)
P Utseya lbw b Mendis 0 (1)
R Price st Sangakkara b Mendis 0 (4)
T Mupariwa c Tharanga b Muralitharan 0 (4)
C Mpofu b Mendis 0 (3)
Extras 21 (4b, 4lb, 13w)
Total: 127 (all out; 31 overs)
FoW: 1-28 (Sibanda, 7.5 ov), 2-40 (Masakadza, 10.6 ov), 3-83 (Chibhabha, 21.1 ov), 4-124 (Matsikenyeri, 27.1 ov), 5-124 (Chigumbura, 27.2 ov), 6-124 (Maruma, 27.6 ov), 7-125 (Utseya, 28.2 ov), 8-125 (Price, 28.6 ov), 9-126 (Mupariwa, 29.5 ov), 10-127 (Mpofu, 30.6 ov)
Bowling:
M Maharoof 8 - 0 - 26 - 1
K Kulasekara 7 - 1- 25 - 1
T Thushara 6 - 0 - 28 - 0
B Mendis 6 - 0 - 26 - 3
M Muralitharan 4 - 1- 14 - 4
Sri Lanka innings
W Tharanga run out (Mpofu) 0 (3)
M Udawatte c Matsikenyeri b Chigumbura 38 (46)
K Sangakkara not out 46 (95)
D Jayawardene b Price 15 (32)
C Kapugedera c Chibhabha b Price 16 (15)
J Mubarak not out 0 (10)
Extras 15 (3lb, 12w)
Total: 130 (4 wickets; 33.2 overs)
FoW: 1-0 (Tharanga, 0.3 ov), 2-57 (Udawatte, 12.4 ov), 3-95 (Jayawardene, 24.3 ov), 4-122 (Kapugedera, 30.2 ov)
Bowling:
C Mpofu 8 - 1- 28 - 0
T Mupariwa 7 - 0 - 28 - 0
E Chigumbura 5 - 0 - 19 - 1
R Price 7 - 1- 24 - 2
P Utseya 6.2 - 1 - 28 - 0
Sri Lanka won by six wickets