Football
Reuters 19y

Cricket-Samaraweera, Jayawardene guide Sri Lanka to 254-4

COLOMBO, Sept 14 - Muttiah Muralitharan took six
for 18 as Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 96
runs in the first test on Wednesday.

Bangladesh, who started the third day on 36-3 still trailing
by 146 runs, lost wickets early and were eventually bowled out
for 86 in 27.4 overs, their lowest ever score in test cricket.

Muralitharan followed his double-strike late on day two with
the wickets of Tushar Imran for three, Aftab Ahmed for eight and
Mohammad Rafique for four in quick succession.

Imran was bowled by an off break that spun sharply and kept
low, Ahmed was caught at slip off his doosra and Rafique
top-edged a catch to short fine leg.

Pace bowler Lasith Malinga chipped in with two wickets,
bowling Khaled Mashud for 15 and Syed Rasel for one with fast
yorkers, to finish with 3-32 from six overs.

Muralitharan then wrapped up the match when Enamul Haque jnr
was stumped, becoming the the fourth batsmen to be deceived by
Muralitharan's doosra, a delivery that spins in the opposite
direct to his stock off break.

Muralitharan's five-wicket haul was his 47th in test cricket
-- an extension of his own world record -- and he finished with
match figures of 9-60 from 24.2 overs

Bangladesh's defeat was their 23rd innings defeat in 39
tests since being given test status in 2000 and their eighth
innings defeat in their last 10 test matches.

They will now have four days to re-group before the second
and final test of the series starting next Monday in Colombo.

^ Back to Top ^