Murali destroys India after Sri Lanka’s 600-6

COLOMBO, July 25: Off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan triggered India’s collapse with four quick wickets to boost Sri Lanka’s hopes of enforcing follow-on in the first Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground here on Friday.

The wily spinner grabbed four wickets for 38 as India struggled to reach 159 for six in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to Sri Lanka’s mammoth 600-6 declared.

The tourists now require 242 more runs to make Sri Lanka bat again, with Venkatsai Laxman (19 not out) being the only specialist batsman left. Skipper Anil Kumble was unbeaten on one when bad light stopped play.

Muralitharan was instrumental in denting India’s batting reputation as he claimed four of the five wickets that fell in the closing session. Among his victims was ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar (27).

Muralitharan was brilliantly supported by debutant Ajantha Mendis, the latest spin sensation who took the important wicket of former India captain Rahul Dravid in his probing 18 overs.

India’s batting failed to flourish as they lost wickets at regular intervals on an easy-paced track, with the Sri Lankan spin duo doing the maximum damage by keeping constant pressure on the batsmen.

Virender Sehwag was the first to go, mistiming an attempted pull off seamer Nuwan Kulasekara to be caught by Warnapura at deep backward square-leg after smashing five fours in his 16-ball 25.

There was no respite from spin for the tourists as both Muralitharan and Mendis kept testing the batsmen with clever variations.

Muralitharan had Gautam Gambhir (39) caught driving by Samaraweera at short cover and Mendis bowled Dravid (14) with a delivery that turned slightly to hit the off-stump.

Muralitharan struck again when he removed Tendulkar, who was bowled off an inside-edge. He then accounted for Saurav Ganguly (23) and wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik (nine).

Earlier, Dilshan made the most of his reprieve under cricket’s new laws to hit an unbeaten 125 and became the fourth batsman to score a century in Sri Lanka’s innings — equalling the national Test record.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene (136), Warnapura (115) and Samaraweera (127) — also scored centuries.

Sri Lanka had twice before had four centurions in an innings, both at Colombo, against India in 2001 and Bangladesh in 2007. The overall Test record is five, set by Australia against the West Indies at Kingston in 1955 and Pakistan against Bangladesh at Multan in 2001.

Sri Lanka added 178 to their overnight total of 422-4 for the loss of just two wickets.

Dilshan, 20 overnight, hogged the limelight as he completed his fifth Test hundred in the last over of the morning session with a four over mid-wicket off Harbhajan Singh. Dilshan gathered runs comfortably, playing handsome shots during his 170-ball knock containing one six and 12 fours.

India’s first success came when Samaraweera (127) cut Zaheer straight to Laxman at gully. The batsman added 16 to his overnight score of 111, hitting 18 fours in his 224-ball knock.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) (overnight 422-4):

M. Vandort c Karthik b Sharma 3

M. Warnapura c Dravid b Harbhajan 115

K. Sangakkara c Dravid b Zaheer 12

M. Jayawardene c Karthik b Sharma 136

T. Samaraweera c Laxman b Zaheer 127

T. Dilshan not out 125

P. Jayawardene c Sharma b Harbhajan 30

C. Vaas not out 22

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, NB-18, W-3) 30

TOTAL (for six wkts declared, 162 overs) 600