Murali’s six puts SA in a fix

GALLE, JULY 22: South Africa, forced to follow-on for the second time since their return to international cricket eight years ago, were ba...

GALLE, JULY 22: South Africa, forced to follow-on for the second time since their return to international cricket eight years ago, were battling defeat on the third day of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium here on Saturday. At close, South Africa were 112 for two in their second innings after Muttiah Muralitharan had sent their first innings into a tailspin.

The off-spinner, Muralitharan, took six wickets for 87 runs to dismiss South Africa for 238 in reply to Sri Lanka’s massive total of 522. But he failed to take a wicket in the second innings as South Africa followed on, 284 runs in deficit.

The only wicket to fall to the bowlers in the South African second innings was that of Neil McKenzie who was caught off the outside edge by Arjuna Ranatunga at slip off leg-spinner Upul Chandana for 25. Gary Kirsten, who helped McKenzie add 58 for the first wicket, fell in the last over of the day tragically run out attempting a second run for 55, which in some way tilted the balance in Sri Lanka’s favour.

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Jacques Kallis was unbeaten on 25 as South Africa ended the day still requiring 172 runs to avoid an innings defeat with eight wickets standing.

Muralitharan forced South Africa to follow-on for the first time since the Durban Test against England in December last year when they were dismissed for 156. On that occasion they batted well in the second innings to draw the match by scoring 572 for seven of which Kirsten made 275.

On a dusty and cracking pitch taking spin, Darryl Cullinan stood firm against the Sri Lankan spinners spearheaded by Muralitharan. The right-hander batted resolutely to be unbeaten on 114, his 11th Test 100 and his fourth against Sri Lanka, having defied the bowling for 274 minutes.

Cullinan had 12 fours and a six in his 231-ball knock which had only one blemish. At 52 he was dropped by Marvan Atapattu at mid wicket off Kumar Dharmasena, but otherwise batted with great composure which none of his team mates possessed. The second highest scorer of the innings was Jacques Kallis with 29.

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Muralitharan’s final figures of six for 87 was the best by a bowler in a Sri Lanka-South Africa series, improving on Brett Schultz’s 5 for 48 at the Sinhalese SC grounds in 1993-94. Leg-spinner Upul Chandana finished the South African innings off by dismissing Paul Adams and Makhaya Ntini to finish with two for 46.

Kumar Dharmasena took the wicket of Lance Klusener, his first Test wicket for nearly two years. He was out of international cricket following a suspect bowling action which he has rectified since.

Scoreboard

Lanka (1st innings): 522

South Africa (1st innings; overnight 81-2): G Kirsten c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 12, N McKenzie b Muralitharan 11, J Kallis c Arnold b Muralitharan 29, D Cullinan not out 114, J Rhodes b Muralitharan 12, L Klusener c Chandana b Dharmasena 19, M Boucher b Muralitharan 0, S Pollock c Dharmasena b Muralitharan 4, N Boje c Atapattu b Jayasuriya 12, P Adams c Atapattu b Chandana 4, M Ntini c ranatunga b Chandana 8; Extras: (b2, lb1, nb10) 13. Total: (all out in 99 overs) 238

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-30, 3-86, 4-119, 5-162, 6-168, 7-198, 8-213, 9-223

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Bowling: Vaas 12-6-16-0 (2nb), Zoysa 4-1-12-0, Dharmasena 25-5-70-1, Muralitharan 41-8-87-6 (8nb), Chandana 14-3-46-2, Jayasuriya 3-0-4-1

South Africa (2nd innings): G Kirsten run out 55, N McKenzie c Ranatunga b Chandana 25, J Kallis batting 25; Extras: (lb4, nb3) 7. Total: (2 wkts, 43.5 overs) 112

Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-112

Bowling: Vaas 7-2-18-0, Zoysa 5-2-11-0, Dharmasena 8-1-26-0, Muralitharan 11-2-20-0 (3nb), Chandana 12-4-29-1, Jayasuriya 0.5-0-4-0.