The Hindu : Sport : Collingwood is Murali’s victim No. 709

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Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007
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Collingwood is Murali’s victim No. 709

Ted Corbett

The intrigue deepens as the Sri Lankan openers erase the deficit

— Photo: AFP

World Record: Muttiah Muralitharan became Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy on Monday. He dismissed England’s Paul Collingwood to break Shane Warne’s record of 708 wickets. The off-spinner returned figures of six for 55 on the third day of the first Test, increasing his tally to 710.

KANDY: Those who thought the third day of the first Test would be all about Muttiah Muralitharan found there is nothing so simple in cricket.

In fact, this game turned out to be tense even after Murali had taken six for 55 as England was bowled out for 281 — a lead of 93. Sanath Jayasuriya, written off as an man whose only ambition was to settle on the right date to begin drawing his pension, suddenly reminded us that he was once the most explosive opening batsman in the world, and Michael Vandort gave evidence that there is nothing unworthy about playing a supporting innings.

By the time they had batted just beyond tea, England, which had been happy with a lead of 93, faced defeat in the fourth innings when this placid pitch is meant to give Murali a signpost to another big haul of wickets.

Jayasuriya hints at retirement during this series but anyone who saw him smash six fours off an over by James Anderson soon forgot it took him only to his second fifty in 28 innings and began to wonder if he might not be persuaded to change his mind. Can Sri Lanka afford to allow such a talent to join the pension queue?

Of course, not. I will bet there will be a few furtive meetings in the next few days before we discover if the men Marvan Atapattu called muppets have the character for this job.

— PHOTO: AFP

THE SPECIAL ONE: Muttiah Muralitharan holds aloft the ball that fetched him the record.

Two English players have. Paul Collingwood led the fight for a first innings lead with a laboured 45 worth its weight in platinum in a low-scoring match, with support from Ryan Sidebottom before the latter fell foul of the new ball and Collingwood became Murali’s victim No.709. Collingwood played Murali in the classic manner, judging each ball on its merit, but Sidebottom concentrated hard to reach his fourth highest score in ten years.

The last four wickets brought 40 precious runs but even after Hoggard had taken his fifth wicket of the match to get rid of Jayasuriya, the clear skies suggested that England would not want to score more than 150 in the final innings — especially as Kevin Pietersen will be handicapped by a crack in the little finger of his right hand when he bats. Anderson will console himself that this was simply his Black Monday. That six fours in an over meant his first six overs went for 36. By the end, Michael Vaughan had to resort to the wing-and-a-prayer medium pace of Ravi Bopara, as Vandort trudged to a hard fought 49.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka - 1st innings: 188.

England - 1st innings: A. Cook lbw b Vaas 0, M. Vaughan c Silva b Muralitharan 37, I. Bell c Silva b Muralitharan 83, K. Pietersen lbw b Muralitharan 31, P. Collingwood b Muralitharan 45, R. Bopara c P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 8, M. Prior c Mubarak b Fernando 0, R. Sidebottom c P. Jayawardene b Malinga 31, M. Hoggard st P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 15, J. Anderson lbw b Vaas 9, M. Panesar (not out) 2, Extras (b-6, lb-1, nb-11, w-2): 20; Total (in 93.1 overs): 281.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-107, 3-132, 4-170, 5-182, 6-185, 7-242, 8-266, 9- 272.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 18.1-3-76-2, Malinga 20-2-86-1, Muralitharan 35-14-55-6, Jayasuriya 2-0-9-0, Fernando 18-2-48-1.

Sri Lanka - 2nd innings: M. Vandort c Bell b Anderson 49, S. Jayasuriya lbw b Hoggard 78, K. Sangakkara (batting) 30, M. Jayawardene (batting) 0, Extras (b-5, lb-5): 10; Total (for two wkts. in 52 overs): 167.

Fall of wickets: 1-113, 2-166. England bowling: Hoggard 11-3-28-1, Sidebottom 11-2-22-0, Panesar 18-1-53-0, Anderson 9-2-50-1, Bopara 3-1-4-0.

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