Murali gives Lankans Kandy treat

KANDY, NOV. 25. Sri Lanka broke the `Kandy jinx' with a 131-run victory over the West Indies on an absorbing fifth and final day of the second cricket Test here on Sunday.

Sri Lanka, which had lost its last three Tests at this venue, owed its success to off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan who grabbed six wickets to take his match-tally to 10.

Muralitharan's fourth successive haul of 10 or more wickets in Tests enabled Sri Lanka clinch the series, following its victory in the opening Test at Galle last week.

The West Indies, needing 322 to win, could not even salvage a draw as it crashed to 190 in the second innings.

The West Indian batting continued to wobble despite defiant knocks from Marlon Samuels (54), Brian Lara (45) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (47).

`Kandy man' Muralitharan never allowed the West Indies to build a big partnership which it required to save the game with his clever variations on a turning pitch.

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Section  : Sport
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