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Sri Lanka close in on victory
3/11/2006
BOGRA, Mar 10 (Cricinfo): Muttiah Muralitharan became the second bowler in history to claim 600 Test wickets during the third afternoon of the Bogra Test as Sri Lanka seized control and paved the way for a certain 2-0 series win. Set a modest 120-run target after a disciplined allround display in the field, Sri Lanka finished on 77 without loss when, bizarrely, the umpires left the field for bad (but not dangerous) light with seven overs still to be bowled.
When Sri Lanka return Saturday morning, Upul Tharanga (48 not out) will aim to follow his marathon first innings century with another half-century, having unleashed a string of beautifully timed offside strokes in the final session. For the third successive night, he walked off the field unbeaten. His partner, Michael Vandort, was more crabish and uncertain on 22 not out when the umpires called it quits.
His latest milestone came after lunch as Khaled Mashud (6) top-edged a sweep to Lasith Malinga at deep square leg. Muralitharan watched the ball like a hawk and then broke out into the widest of smiles as his team-mates - well-versed when it comes to the celebration of Muralitharan milestones - engulfed him.
The only substantial Bangladeshi resistance was provided by Habibul Bashar, who led from the front, following his first innings 69 with another skilful and positive 73. Mohammad Rafique, a loyal servant for Bangladesh cricket with his complete commitment and allround skills, raised the spirits of the crowd with a swashbuckling 64 from 78 balls - a hard-hitting display that included three sixes and heavy punishment for Muralitharan.
Earlier, Bangladesh needed to dismiss Sri Lanka early in the morning and they did just that as Malinga fended off a nasty Shahadat Hossain bouncer to short leg. The breakthrough ended what had been a frustrating 42-run ninth- wicket stand for Bangladesh. It also enabled Shahadat to end with a five-wicket haul, the first by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Tests. Tharanga's long vigil came to an end shortly after as he glanced down the legside and was acrobatically caught one-handed by a diving Khaled Mashud. Tharanga finished with 165 from 304 balls having hit 19 fours and two sixes.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 302-8):
Tharanga c Mashud b Hossain 165
Fernando lbw b Haque 5
Malinga c Nafees Iqbal b Hossain 12
Muralitharan not out 8
Extras: (b5, lb4, w2, nb4) 15
Total: 316
Bowling: Rasel 20-8-50-1, Hossain 21.3-2-86-5, Rafique 32-9-84-1, Haque 26-3-71-2, Ashraful 4-1-16-1.
Bangladesh 2nd innings:
Javed c Sangakkara b Fernando 13
Nafees c Sangakkara b Malinga 2
Bashar lbw b Malinga 73
Shahriar c Maharoof b Muralitharan 6
Ashraful c Jayawardene b Bandara 13
Mushfiqur c Sangakkara b Bandara 0
Mashud c Malinga b Muralitharan 6
Rafique c Muralitharan b Malinga 64
Shahadat b Fernando 8
Enamul c Sangakkara b Fernando 3
Rasel not out 1
Extras: (b1, lb4, w2, nb5) 12
Total: 201
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-29, 3-46, 4-95, 5-95, 6-110, 7-162, 8-187, 9-198
Bowling: Malinga 14.1-1-51-3, Fernando 19-4-51-3, Muralitharan 13-1-62-2, Bandara 10-4-32-2.
Sri Lanka 2nd innings:
Vandort not out 22
Tharanga not out 48
Extras: (lb5, w2) 7
Total: (for no loss) 77
Bowling: Rasel 5-0-21-0, Hossain 6-2-30-0, Rafique 5-2-14-0, Haque 4-0-7-0.
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