Lanka win as Murali breaks his own record

Rex Clementine reporting  from Wellington

Mahela Jayawardene and Stephen Fleming share the trophy after the two Test series ended with a win each on day four of the second cricket Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, yesterday.
(AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford)

There have been many highlights on the cricket field for Mahela Jayawardene’s cricket team this year in Test cricket and the Lankan Lions finished off a successful 2006 by winning the second Test against New Zealand here at the Basin Reserve in Wellington by 217 runs. The tourists came back from behind after their disappointing effort in Christchurch to square the series, their second Test win in this country following the historic triumph in 1995 in Napier.

After the batsmen set New Zealand an improbable target of 504, Muttiah Muralitharan came up with yet another splendid effort to bowl out the hosts for 286. The off-spinner mixed up his deliveries cleverly and had the New Zealand batsmen in trouble on a wicket that provided him adequate support. He finished with six for 86, his 57th five wicket haul and ended the Test with a match bag of ten for 107, the 19th time he has taken ten wickets or more in a Test.

Muralitharan also completed a remarkable year in Test cricket as he finished with an amazing 90 wickets in the calendar year in just 11 Test Matches at a mind-boggling average of 17:53. Out of the 11 Tests, in five games Muralitharan picked up ten wicket match bags, a remarkable achievement by the 34-year-old.

His previous best in a calendar year was 80 wickets that he achieved in 2001 and this year he was even better. What makes his effort an even special one is that none of the other international bowlers have even got 50 Test wickets by this time of the year. Muralitharan’s spin rival Shane Warne had managed just 37 wickets in eight Tests before the Perth game in the same period.

Muralitharan narrowly missed breaking Shane Warne’s world record for the highest number of wickets in a calendar year that stands at 96 established in 2005. However, Warne had taken 15 Tests to accomplish the feet and if Sri Lanka had played a three Test series in New Zealand instead of two, he could have easily broken that record too.

The race for the highest number of wickets in Tests between the two greatest spinners also heats up as Murali now trails Warne by just 15 wickets. While the Australian has 699 wickets Murali is on 674.

While Murali picked up the vital wickets, it was two brilliant performances with the bat by Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva that gave him the cushion to bowl to an attacking field.

Sri Lanka’s victory came just before tea yesterday when James Franklin heaved at a Muralitharan delivery and was caught by Chamara Silva at deep midwicket to top off a sensational performance.

Muralitharan appreciated Silva’s efforts as he grabbed a stump soon after the last wicket fell and handed it over to Silva as a souvenir. Silva was named Man of the Match for his first innings fifty and the unbeaten 152 in the second innings.

The day started off impressively for Sri Lanka as they got early breakthroughs.

The Kiwis resumed the day at 75 for two and Sri Lanka had to dismiss captain Stephen Fleming early to avoid the Test going into the fifth day. Weather predictions was for rain on the final day and getting rid of Fleming early on was high on Sri Lanka’s agenda as he was capable of playing big innings. The left-hander had made his career best 274* against them at the P. Sara defying Murali and co in 2002 and Sri Lanka were keen to get him early.

Lasith Malinga provided the breakthrough, once again troubling the New Zealand skipper with a quick delivery that took the outside edge of the batsman and gave Sangakkara a comfortable catch. Sangakkara kept wickets in the entire second innings as Prasanna Jayawardene was unwell with a bruised arm.

Sri Lanka got four wickets in the extended morning session as Muralitharan dismissed three middle order batsmen.

The Kiwis took lunch at 176 for six. Soon after the break, Chaminda Vaas trapped Jacob Oram lbw before Daniel Vettori and James Franklyn defied the Sri Lankan bowlers for over one hour adding 96 runs for the eighth wicket. Muralitharan broke the partnership with a well disguised doosra.

Soon after he completed his 13th half-century, Vettori padded Muralitharan assuming he was playing an off-spinner. But the ball instead of leaving the batsman came in and wrapped on the pads and it was an easy decision for umpire Brian Jerling to make.

After Vettori’s resistance, New Zealand folded up to be bowled out for 286 to give the Sri Lankans a memorable victory.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 268 (K. Sangakkara 156*)

New Zealand 1st Innings 130 (L. Malinga 5-65)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings 365 (C. Silva 152*, D. Vettori 7-130)

New Zealand 2nd Innings

C. Cumming ct Sangakkara b Muralitharan 20

J. How lbw b Malinga 33

M. Sinclair ct Sangakkara b Muralitharan 37

S. Fleming ct Sangakkara b Malinga 27

N. Astle lbw b Muralitharan 09

B. McCullum b Muralitharan 17

J. Oram lbw b Vaas 04

D. Vettori lbw b Muralitharan 51

J. Franklin ct Silva b Muralitharan 44

S. Bond ct Sangakkara b Maharoof 06

C. Martin not out 04

Extras: (b 9, lb 7, nb 7, w 11) 34

Total all out 286

Overs: 86.1

Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-60, 3-115, 4-139, 5-156, 6-161, 7-163, 8-259, 9-278.

Bowling: Vaas 18-2-64-1 (5w), Malinga 16-1-62-2 (2nb) (6w), Maharoof 11-1-47-1 (5nb), Muralitharan 34.1-9-87-6, Jayasuriya 6-3-10-0.

Result: Sri Lanka won by 217 runs

Man of the Match: Chamara Silva

-The Island-