Date:28/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122855961300.htm

Sport

Murali puts Sri Lanka in command

Chaminda Vaas claims 350th Test victim

DHAKA: Muttiah Muralitharan claimed five wickets to put Sri Lanka firmly in command of the first Test against Bangladesh on Saturday, the off-spinner’s haul leaving the host on 177 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka’s 293 at the end of the second day’s play.

Muralitharan made the vital breakthrough with his second delivery of the match when Tamim Iqbal was caught at forward short-leg by Malinda Warnapura for 17.

He added three more wickets for his 66th five-wicket haul, before bad light stopped play.

Chaminda Vaas chipped in with two for 33 and in the process claimed his 350th Test victim, when he had Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful caught by a diving Tillakaratne Dilshan at cover. Vaas also had opener Imrul Kayes caught behind. — Reuters

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka — 1st innings: M. Vandort c Hasan b S. Hossain 44, M. Warnapura lbw b Mortaza 14, K. Sangakkara c Ashraful b Hasan 43, M. Jayawardene b Hasan 3, T. Samaraweera c Siddique b Hasan 90, T. Dilshan b Hasan 14, P. Jayawardene c Iqbal b S. Hossain 6, C. Vaas c Rahim b Mortaza 37, D. Prasad lbw b Hasan 3, R. Herath (run out) 1, M. Muralitharan (not out) 0, Extras (b-4, lb-13, nb-9, w-12) 38; Total (in 89.4 overs) 293.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-119, 3-121, 4-135, 5-155, 6-171, 7-270, 8-285, 9-291.

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 18-2-67-2, Alam 19-4-56-0, S. Hossain 16-2-55-2, Hasan 28.4-4-70-5, M. Hossain 6-1-22-0, Ashraful 2-0-6-0.

Bangladesh — 1st innings: T. Iqbal c Warnapura b Muralitharan 17, I. Kayes c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 33, J. Siddique b Muralitharan 29, M. Ashraful c Dilshan b Vaas 12, R. Hasan b Prasad 11, M. Hossain c M. Jayawardene b Herath 29, Shakib Al Hasan c M. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 26, M. Rahim (batting) 11, M. Mortaza lbw b Muralitharan 0, S. Hossain st P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 5, M. Alam (batting) 0, Extras (b-4) 4; Total (for nine wkts. in 59 overs) 177.

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-68, 3-90, 4-95, 5-117, 6-158, 7-162, 8-162, 9-176.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 11-4-33-2, Prasad 13-0-61-1, Dilshan 2-0-2-0, Muralitharan 21-8-48-5, Herath 12-1-29-1.