Murali record dents England hopes
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
KANDY, Dec 3 (BBC): Muttiah Muralitharan created history in his hometown of Kandy as Sri Lanka seized the initiative on day three of the first Test against England.
Muralitharan took the one wicket he needed to pass Shane Warne's Test record of 708, and raised the bar to 710 with excellent figures of 6-55.
England rallied to reach 281 all out and secure an important 93-run lead.
But Sanath Jayasuriya's ebullient 78 swung the match back Sri Lanka's way as they closed on 167-2, 74 runs ahead.
In what proved to be a crucial over, Jayasuriya was dropped by Ian Bell high above his head at slip off James Anderson on 35.
Having hit the first ball of the over for four, and gaining another boundary thanks to Bell's drop, he also despatched the last four balls of the over to the ropes.
Jayasuriya's stunning volley of 24 runs from the six balls preceded an announcement from him at the end of the day that he was retiring from Tests, but continuing with one-dayers.
Soon after tea, England's lead was wiped out, and Jayasuriya pulled Matthew Hoggard for the first six of the match as he and Michael Vandort established Sri Lanka's best ever opening stand against England.
Eventually Jayasuriya's luck ran out with the total on 113, umpire Aleem Dar upholding Hoggard's appeal for lbw.
England desperately needed the wicket, and they were fortunate to get it as the ball appeared to have pitched outside leg-stump.
Kevin Pietersen sat out fielding duties, nursing a broken little finger, although England stressed he would be fit enough to bat in the second innings.
Sri Lanka 188 and 167 for 2 (Jayasuriya 78, Sangakkara 30*, M Jayawardene 0*) lead England 281 (Bell 83, Collingwood 45, Muralitharan 6-55) by 74 runs.
Muralitharan took the one wicket he needed to pass Shane Warne's Test record of 708, and raised the bar to 710 with excellent figures of 6-55.
England rallied to reach 281 all out and secure an important 93-run lead.
But Sanath Jayasuriya's ebullient 78 swung the match back Sri Lanka's way as they closed on 167-2, 74 runs ahead.
In what proved to be a crucial over, Jayasuriya was dropped by Ian Bell high above his head at slip off James Anderson on 35.
Having hit the first ball of the over for four, and gaining another boundary thanks to Bell's drop, he also despatched the last four balls of the over to the ropes.
Jayasuriya's stunning volley of 24 runs from the six balls preceded an announcement from him at the end of the day that he was retiring from Tests, but continuing with one-dayers.
Soon after tea, England's lead was wiped out, and Jayasuriya pulled Matthew Hoggard for the first six of the match as he and Michael Vandort established Sri Lanka's best ever opening stand against England.
Eventually Jayasuriya's luck ran out with the total on 113, umpire Aleem Dar upholding Hoggard's appeal for lbw.
England desperately needed the wicket, and they were fortunate to get it as the ball appeared to have pitched outside leg-stump.
Kevin Pietersen sat out fielding duties, nursing a broken little finger, although England stressed he would be fit enough to bat in the second innings.
Sri Lanka 188 and 167 for 2 (Jayasuriya 78, Sangakkara 30*, M Jayawardene 0*) lead England 281 (Bell 83, Collingwood 45, Muralitharan 6-55) by 74 runs.