Murali equals Hadlee's mark

Muttiah Muralitharan added another feather to his cap, equalling Richard Hadlee's world mark of 36 five-wicket hauls, in a record Sri Lanka victory in the first Test against Bangladesh in Colombo on Tuesday.

The off-spin wizard finished with five for 59 as Sri Lanka crushed the tourists by an innings and 196 runs for their biggest victory in 126 Tests, the previous margin being an innings and 166 runs against Zimbabwe, also at Colombo, in December 2001.

Bangladesh were shot out for 184, after conceding a lead of 380 on the third day at the Saravanamuttu stadium, as they suffered their 11th defeat -- the eighth by an innings -- in 12 matches since gaining Test status in 2000.

This was Sri Lanka's ninth successive Test victory at home since September 2001, including 3-0 sweeps over the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka owed their success to the 30-year-old Muralitharan, who never allowed the inexperienced Bangladeshi batsmen to settle down with his turn and bounce during his 25 disciplined overs.

The Sri Lankan spinner, the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the world with 430, took 10 Tests fewer than New Zealand paceman Hadlee to bag 36 hauls of five or more wickets in an innings. The New Zealander achieved the feat in 86 Tests and Muralitharan in 76.

The champion spinner finished with ten for 98 for his 11th haul of 10 or more wickets in a Test, improving upon his own world record.

He is now behind West Indian Courtney Walsh (519), Australian Shane Warne (450), Indian Kapil Dev (434) and Hadlee (431) on the all-time wicket-takers' list.

Muralitharan reduced the match to a no-contest in the morning session itself when he grabbed three quick wickets to send the tourists tottering at 124 for five at lunch.

He was brilliantly supported by close-in fielders, with Kumar Sangakkara taking four catches at silly-point.

Opener Al Sahariar was the lone batsman to defy the Sri Lankan spinner in yet another feeble Bangladeshi batting performance, top-scoring with 67 for his third Test half- century in 10 matches.

Sahariar put on 77 for the third wicket with Habibul Bashar (34).

Muralitharan broke the stand when he bowled Bashar with one that turned in sharply after pitching outside the off-stump.

He then had Akram Khan (five) and Aminul Islam (nought) caught by Sangakkara at silly point off consecutive deliveries.

Pacemen Dilhara Fernando and Sujeeva de Silva denied Bangladesh a solid start for the second time in the match, sharing two wickets in the opening five overs.

Left-arm seamer Sujeeva struck with his second ball, tr apping Hannan Sarkar leg-before for one.

Fernando removed Ehsanul Haque in his third over, having him caught by Charitha Buddhika in the covers for five.

The second and final Test will start in Colombo on Sunday, followed by three one-day internationals on August 4, 5 and 7.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (1st innings): 161

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 541-9 decl

Bangladesh (2nd innings):
H Sarkar lbw b Sujeeva 1
A Sahariar c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 67
Ehsanul Haque c Buddhika b Fernando 5
H Bashar b Muralitharan 34
A Khan c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 5
A Islam c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 0
K Mashud c Buddhika b Aravinda 26
Enamul Haque b Fernando 22
M Islam c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 2
A Kabir b Sujeeva 0
T Jubair not out 5
Extras (lb-5, nb-11, w-1) 17
Total (all out, 66.3 overs) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-91, 4-113, 5-113, 6-124, 7-158, 8-161, 9-166.
Bowling: Fernando 11-4-24-2, Sujeeva 11-1-35-2, Buddhika 7-2-34-0, Muralitharan 25-6-59-5, Jayasuriya 10-2-20-0, Aravinda 2.3-1-7-1.

Mail Cricket Editor