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Sri Lanka crushes India

Sri Lanka crushes India

07/22/2010 09:33:28 AM

Tillakaratne Dilshan's 14th Test half-century provided the icing on the cake for Muttiah Muralitharan's record-setting bowling performance, as Sri Lanka posted a 10-wicket win against India in the first Test at Galle.

In an action-packed final day, retiring spinner Muralitharan snapped up the wicket of Pragyan Ojha to enter the record books as the only bowler with 800 Test wickets, as India could only manage a 94-run lead - despite being asked to follow on - in response to Sri Lanka's 520-run first-innings total.

As a result, the home side were able to present Muralitharan with the perfect retirement gift, cantering home in the final session of the day with utmost ease, Tillakaratne Dilshan leading the charge with his 47-ball 68 alongside fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana.

While Dilshan played as if batting in any of the shorter formats of the game, smashing the Indian bowlers all round the park, Paranavitana kept things steady at the other end during a patient 23 off 42 deliveries.

Fittingly, however, it was Dilshan who struck the winning runs - and in some style - lofting the hapless Harbhajan Singh for a huge six over long on to set off the Sri Lankan celebrations at Galle stadium.

In a match that was much hindered by the rain - including the whole of second day being washed out - Sri Lanka dominated the majority of the four days, and in all three departments of the game.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Paranavitana flexed the Lions' batting muscles on the first day, as the pair notched up centuries en route to a 181-run second-wicket partnership.

But the real strength in their side was on display at the tail end as Rangana Herath (80) and Lasith Malinga (64) produced some explosive batting to help their side declare the first innings on day three at a mammoth 8-520.

In response, India lost wickets at key moments and despite Virender Sehwag being involved in two 60-plus-run partnerships during his 175-ball 109, the tourists were bundled out for 276 inside the second session on day four.

Muralitharan, as always, was at the heart of the action, snapping up five wickets - including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar, as India were dealt the ignominy of the follow-on.

However, the visitors once again masterminded their own downfall - the silver lining coming in the forms of Tendulkar and VVS Laxman who made 84 and 69 respectively - and despite a resilient stand-off from tail-ender Ishant Sharma, India could only manage a paltry lead of 94 going into the final session on day five.

And once again, it was Muralitharan whose presence dominated the entire innings.

His three wickets not only helped him achieve the record 800 mark, but also engineered the Indian batting collapse.

However, fiery paceman Malinga was not far behind in picking up personal accolades, marking up only his second career five-wicket Test haul in a hit list that included Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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