Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first against Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the series in Galle. Seri Lanka brought in off-spinner Akila Dananjaya and leg-spinner Amila Aponso into the playing XI while visitors made a solitary change of replacing Chris Mpofu with right arm seamer Donald Tiripano.  Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka opened the batting for Sri Lanka.  Skipper Angelo Mathews also brought in Lahiru Madushanka to the playing XI as the seam bowling all-rounder.

Sri Lanka: 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Lahiru Madushanka, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Amila Aponso, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Zimbabwe: 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikander Raza, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Peter Moor (wk), 8 Malcolm Waller, 9 Graeme Cremer (capt), 10 Donald Tiripano 11 Tendai Chatara