Sri Lanka's fielders (left) celebrate the dismissal of West Indies middle-order batsman Narsingh Deonarine. Deonarine was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan for 29. - DELLMAR
KANDY, Sri Lanka (CMC):
A DEVASTATING spell of off-spin bowling from Muttiah Muralitharan swept Sri Lanka to a commanding 240-run victory over West Indies, and a 2-0 series sweep just before tea on the fourth day of the second and final cricket Test yesterday.
The 33-year-old spin bowler, who struggled with the flu in the early stages of the match, was back to his mesmerising best under the grey skies of Kandy, returning the outstanding figures of eight for 46, as the inexperienced visitors, set the improbable target of 378, were bundled out for 137 at the Asgiriya Stadium.
SATISFYING PERFORMANCE
Muralitharan's performance, the 46th time he has taken five or more wickets in a Test innings, was all the more satisfying on his home ground, although the Man-of-the-Match award went to another 'Kandy-man', Kumar Sangakkara.
Sangakkara, the left-handed wicketkeeper/batsman, finished unbeaten on 157, when Marvan Atapattu declared Sri Lanka's second innings closed at 375 for seven about 40 minutes after a delayed start caused by more overnight and early morning rain.
Another light shower prompted an early lunch interval with the Caribbean side at 24 for one, but there were to be no more reprieves from the wiles of Muralitharan, despite the persistent overcast conditions in the afternoon.
In taking 10 wickets or more in a Test for the 13th time, the champion bowler lifted his series tally to 17 wickets, and career tally to 549 in 93 matches, leaving him 40 behind world record-holder and Australian spinning rival, Shane Warne.
The Man of the Series award went to Chaminda Vaas however. The left-arm medium-fast bowler, who was Man-of-the-Match in the first Test in Colombo, wrecked the West Indies first innings with figures of six for 22.
Narsingh Deonarine top-scored with 29, while Dinesh Ramdin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Test newcomer Ryan Ramdass also got into the 20s, but even as they battled on, it seemed only a matter of time before Muralitharan claimed them.
SCOREBOARD
SRI LANKA 1st Innings 150
(D. Powell 5-25)
WEST INDIES 1st Innings 148
(C. Vaas 6-22)
SRI LANKA 2nd Innings
(overnight 340 for seven)
+K. Sangakkara not out 157
R. Herath not out 15
Extras: (b4, lb6, w6, nb9) 25
TOTAL: (7 wkts decl'd) 375
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-57, 3-155, 4-155, 5-264, 6-278, 7-321.
Bowling: Powell 28-4-89-2, Lawson 29-1-104-3, Best 20-2-84-0, Banks 19-5-47-2, Deonarine 3-0-13-0, Morton 5-0-15-0,Chanderpaul 3-1-13-0.
Overs: 107
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (target: 378 runs)
X. Marshall lbw b Malinga 1
R. Ramdassc Jayawardene b Muralitharan 23
R. Morton lbw b Muralitharan 9
S. Chanderpaul c Jayawardene b Herath 24
S. Joseph c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 0
N. Deonarine b Muralitharan 29
+D. Ramdin b Muralitharan 28
O. Banks c wkpr Sangakkara b Muralitharan 1
D. Powell c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 0
T. Best b Muralitharan 8
J. Lawson not out 1
Extras: (b4, lb2, w5, nb2) 13
TOTAL: (all out) 137
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-38, 3-49, 4-49, 5-77, 6-105, 7-111, 8-119, 9-131.
Bowling: Malinga 12-2-48-1, Wijekoon 4-1-8-0, Muralitharan 16.2-4-46-8, Herath 9-2-29-1.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 240 runs.
Series: Sri Lanka win two-Test series 2-0.
Umpires: S. Taufel, T. Hill (TV Replays: T. Wijewardene).
Match Referee: M. Procter.
Man-of-the-Match: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka).
Man-of-the-Series: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka).
