Harare, Aug. 29 -- A hat-trick by pacer Dilshan Madushanka came in clutch as Sri Lanka secured a narrow seven-run win over Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Harare on Friday, with Ben Curran, skipper Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza's half-centuries going in vain.

Now, Sri Lanka leads the two-match series 1-0.

Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to field first. Three half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (76 in 92 balls, with 12 fours), Janith Liyanage (70* in 47 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Kamindu Mendis (57* in 36 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) took Sri Lanka to 298/6 in 50 overs.

A century stand for the second wicket between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (38 in 63 balls, with three fours) and an unbeaten 137-run stand for...