West Indies bowler Mervyn Dillon (right) celebrates with Ramnaresh Sarwan after taking the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya on the second day of the first Test in Galle yesterday. - Reuters
GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters):
SRI LANKAN spinner Muttiah Muralitharan completed a six-wicket haul, including Brian Lara's scalp for 178, to reignite the first Test against West Indies yesterday.
Muralitharan, who managed just a single wicket on the opening day, added another five victims as the touring side lost the initiative - and their last seven wickets for 55 - to be dismissed for 448.
Sri Lanka, in reply, closed the second day on 103 for one at the Galle International Stadium, with Marvan Atapattu on 46 not out before bad light ended play half-an-hour early.
West Indies, resuming on 316 for three, had looked in total control before the off-spinner removed Carl Hooper, Lara and Marlon Samuels in quick succession.
Skipper Hooper, driving, was caught and bowled just before lunch for 69 and Lara, 117 not out overnight, was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara after top edging a sweep.
The left-hander, still not 100 per cent fit following a long-term hamstring problem, batted over six hours in making his 16th Test century, facing 293 balls and hitting 19 fours.
It was his first hundred since he made 182 against Australia in Adelaide 11 months ago.
Muralitharan, playing on one of his favourite grounds, then cleaned up the tail by sending back Neil McGarrell, caught off bat and pad at silly point, and Colin Stuart bowled for a duck without offering a shot.
Left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas took four for 96 while Muralitharan, with one for 104 off 40 overs on Tuesday, finished with six for 125, his five for 21 on the second day coming in just 13.4 overs.
It was his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was the one Sri Lankan to fall in reply, making a trademark 19-ball 25 including four boundaries before being caught at point by McGarrell off pace bowler Mervyn Dillon.
