Muralitharan claims 59th five-wicket haul in rain-hit Test

Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan claimed his 59th five-wicket haul before rain wreaked havoc in the final cricket Test against Bangladesh here on Thursday. The world record-chasing bowler finished with 6-28 as Bangladesh were shot out for 131 in their first innings before lunch on the second day at the Asgiriya stadium.
Heavy rain soon after Bangladesh were dismissed forced Sri Lanka to wait until an hour after tea to begin their reply and they managed to play only 8.4 overs before rain set in again. Sri Lanka were 30-0 when play was abandoned for the day with Michael Vandort on 25 and Upul Tharanga on four.
The hosts, seeking a 3-0 clean sweep after winning the first two Tests, have been frustrated by the rain interruptions, which allowed just 29 overs on Wednesday and 28.3 overs on the second day.
When play began 30 minutes late due to a wet outfield, the tourists lost their last six wickets for 33 runs as Muralitharan and seamer Sujeewa De Silva ran through the lower order.
Muralitharan took his career tally to 694 wickets, leaving him just 14 away from equalling Australian Shane Warne's world record of 708 wickets. The off-spinner, who still has unfinished business with Bangladesh in the second innings, could overtake the retired Warne when Sri Lanka play two Tests in Australia in November. But Muralitharan said he was not unduly concerned when the record came although the conditions here could delay the feat.
"I am not sure how much we will be able to bowl in the second innings given the rain, but we will still press for victory if the weather holds," the 35-year-old said.
"The record will come as long as I play on. I am not sure it will happen in Australia since the wickets there are suited more to fast bowlers. "The important thing is to stay fit and hungry for wickets." Muralitharan, who completed 100 wickets in 15 Tests in his home town of Kandy, now has an astonishing 70 wickets in eight matches against Bangladesh.
The poor drainage and coverage system at the stadium that made it difficult for the ground staff to dry the muddy outfield in the brief breaks from rain disappointed Muralitharan. "The facilities at this stadium have to improve," he said. Muralitharan, who had taken two wickets on the first day, earned his third in the innings with a brilliant return catch to dismiss Mashrafe Mortaza.
As Mortaza jabbed the ball high to short cover, Muralitharan ran to his left and dived full-length, claiming the catch with his outstretched left hand inches from the ground.
Muralitharan took another return catch, this one a simple skier running to his left, to remove Mohammad Rafique and claim his 100th wicket in Kandy. The wily bowler had the last two batsmen, Shahadat Hossain and Syed Rasel, caught close to the wicket to leave Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 11.
SCOREBOARD:
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS (OVERNIGHT 72-4):

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Javed Omar lbw b Malinga                           8

Shahriar Nafees c De Silva b Muralitharan         29

Habibul Bashar c P. Jayawardene b Maharoof        18

Rajin Saleh c M. Jayawardene b Muralitharan        0

Mohammad Ashraful c P. Jayawardene b De Silva     26

Tushar Imran M. Jayawardene b De Silva            17

Mushfiqur Rahim not out                           11

Mashrafe Mortaza c and b Muralitharan              5

Mohammad Rafique c and b Muralitharan              5

Shahadat Hossain c Dilshan b Muralitharan          0

Syed Rasel c Silva b Muralitharan                  0

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Extras: (b4, lb2, nb5, w1)                        12

Total:                                           131

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Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Omar), 2-50 (Bashar), 3-61 (Saleh), 4-64 (Nafees), 5-98 (Imran), 6-111 (Ashraful), 7-118 (Mortaza), 8-130 (Rafique), 9-131 (Shahadat).
Bowling: Malinga 10-2-41-1 (nb4, w1), De Silva 12-3-29-2, Maharoof 8-4-21-1 (nb1), Muralitharan 14.5-6-28-6, Dilshan 4-1-6-0
Overs: 48.5
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS:

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M. Vandort not out                                25

U. Tharanga not out                                4

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Extras: (nb1)                                      1

Total: (for no loss)                              30

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