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Murali, Malinga destroy Bangladesh scoreboard

— Photo: AP

SMART WORK: Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardena removes the bails to dismiss Shahadat Hossain to give Muralitharan a match haul of nine for 102.

COLOMBO: Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga picked up five Bangladesh wickets for just 28 runs on Thursday as Sri Lanka strolled to victory by an innings and 234 runs in the first Test.

Resuming on day four at 233 for five after a patient but positive third day, Bangladesh’s tail undid all the efforts of the top-order by succumbing meekly at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground to give Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three Test series.

Wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud was the first to go, bowled by Malinga through the bat and pad for just one run. Muralitharan then deceived Mashrafe Morataza (9) with his doosra.

Malinga then struck twice in one over. First, he removed the last recognised batsman, Shakib Al Hasan, caught on eight at short extra-cover by rookie Malinda Warnapura with a delivery that bounced more than the batsman had expected. Rafique was bowled for a duck by a yorker.

Muralitharan wrapped up the match when Shahadat Hossain was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene for one, giving the spinner another man of the match award for his match figures of nine for 102.

The emphatic win, however, did not satisfy Jayawardene, who urged teammates to improve further in the remaining two Tests.

Tough conditions

“Everyone chipped in with the bat and the bowlers never gave up in what were tough conditions, bowling aggressively and creating opportunities,” he said.

“The ground fielding was excellent but we dropped some chances and we have to work on that.”

Sri Lanka has now won all its eight Test matches against Bangladesh, five of them by an innings.

The Sri Lankans have been so dominant against the Test minnows that they had never required a fifth day to secure victory.

Four of the Tests have ended inside three days and the remaining four with a day to spare.

It was Bangladesh’s 41st defeat in 47 matches since it gained Test status in 2000 with a lone win coming against struggling Zimbabwe. Five games have been drawn.

Bangladesh’s new captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted his side needed to bat better if they were to succeed in Test cricket.

Patience is the key

“We need to show patience in Test cricket,” said the 22-year-old, who was himself guilty of playing irresponsible lofted shots in both innings.

“We may not have done well in the first innings, but the top order responded very well in the second. We lose concentration at crucial moments of the game.

“We need to have the temperament and patience to bat longer in the five-day game.”

Muralitharan, who took five for 15 in the first innings, now has 59 wickets in seven Tests against Bangladesh.

The 35-year-old’s career tally stands at 683, just 25 away from equalling retired Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne’s world record of 708 wickets.

The second Test starts at the P. Sara stadium in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday.

The final Test will be played in the hill resort of Kandy from July 3-7. — Agencies

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