Muralitharan has Zimbabwe
in a spin

Zimbabwe face a battle to save the first Test against Sri Lanka after they were forced to follow-on on the third day on Saturday.

Replying to Sri Lanka's massive total of 586 for six declared, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 184, and then following-on reached 64 for two wickets at stumps, still needing 338 runs to make the hosts bat again.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan added to his four wickets in the first innings by snapping up openers Hamilton Masakadza and Trevor Gripper.

He has now taken 380 wickets in 70 Tests, overhauling the 376 taken by West Indies fast bowler Malcolm Marshall.

Masakadza was dismissed for 28 when he swept and was caught at mid-wicket.

Gripper then edged a catch to Kumar Sangakkara behind the wicket for 10.

Skipper Stuart Carlisle (22) and nightwatchman Travis Friend (0) held on for 22 minutes to deprive Sri Lanka of any further success.

Resuming on 14 for one, the tourists lost an early wicket when Chaminda Vaas had Carlisle brilliantly caught by Sanath Jayasuriya at first slip low down to his right.

Sri Lanka picked up four wickets in the morning session and a further four in the afternoon as Zimbabwe fell to a combination of seam and spin on a pitch that was still good for batting.

Andy Flower was defiant for 155 minutes before he was bowled by part-time spinner Tilan Samaraweera for 42, charging down the wicket and missing the line.

Zimbabwe failed to get any big partnerships going and their highest was a stand of 41 for the sixth wicket between Flower and Craig Wishart, who made 21.

Mail Cricket Editor