Sri Lanka completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe after winning the fifth ODI by 19 runs in Harare on Sunday.

Sri Lanka completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe after winning the fifth one-day international by 19 runs in Harare today.

After coasting to victory in the first two matches the tourists were made to work harder in the third and fourth ODIs, and they looked to be up against it again today after being bowled out for 152 - with Zimbabwe's Ed Rainsford taking three for 22.

But despite a mid-innings rally from Keith Dabengwa and Prosper Utseya, who hit 39 and 31 respectively, Zimbabwe rarely looked liked passing the low target and picking up a consolation win.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was responsible in the main for disposing of the hosts, taking five for 29. He took four of them before Utseya came to the crease, leaving Zimbabwe at 58 for six and with 75 runs to chase as their captain came in to bat.

Vusi Sibanda was the 36-year-old's first victim when he was given out lbw for five.

Hamilton Masakadza (7) followed soon after when he was caught by Ajantha Mendis after attempting to slog-sweep Dilhara Fernando over mid-wicket.

Chamu Chibhabha was Muralitharan's next wicket, trapped lbw with just one run to his name, before he took Stuart Matsikenyeri the same way for four and then bowled Elton Chigumbura.

Tatenda Taibu fell next, as he too was trapped in front of his stumps by Fernando for 14, leaving Zimbabwe with a mountain to climb.

But then Dabengwa and Utseya set about running up the score to put some doubt in Sri Lankan minds, and by the time the next wicket fell, when Dabengwa was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara, Zimbabwe were 130 for seven.

But that wicket signalled the end of the Zimbabwe comeback as Utseya fell soon after, Kulasekara picking up his wicket.

Tawanda Mupariwa and Ray Price came and went quickly as the Zimbabwe tail failed to wag.

Earlier the tourists reached 152 despite a poor start of their own as openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene posted only six runs off 34 balls before the former was bowled by Rainsford and the latter caught by Utseya off the bowling of Mupariwa.

Sri Lanka managed a meagre 38 runs off the first 100 balls with wickets also falling at regular intervals.

Chamara Kapugedera was caught at mid-wicket by Matsikenyeri for four before Kumar Sangakkara fell to a catch by Taibu after weighing in with 28.

But 26-year-old Thilina Kandamby, who top scored with 40, sparked some life into the tourists.

After Jehan Mubarak was caught for 16 by Matsikenyeri, Kandamby and Angelo Mathews set about running up the score until the former was run out.

Mathews amassed 31 to take the total to 150 for nine before he was caught by Masakadza.

Before he fell, Kulasekara was bowled by Price for a single run and Muralitharan was run out for five.

Fernando added two more runs before becoming the last man to go after being bowled right on middle stump by Rainsford.