Muralitharan spins web around S Africa

PRETORIA, March 29: Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan led Sri Lanka to a 103-run first innings lead against South Africa in the second cricket Te...

PRETORIA, March 29: Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan led Sri Lanka to a 103-run first innings lead against South Africa in the second cricket Test today before the game broke for tea.

Daryll Cullinan saved face for South Africa, hitting 103 for his second century in three innings. South Africa were bowled out for 200. Sri Lanka scored 303 in their first innings.

South Africa, who began their innings on the second day, were never at ease against the spin of Muralitharan, after the pace duo of Ravindra Pushpakumara and Nuwan Zoysa had taken two wickets in the first two overs.Cullinan was in control throughout his 307-minute innings and has so far been the cornerstone of South Africa8217;s batting.

Muralitharan, Sri Lanka8217;s leading wicket-taker, grabbed his 12th five-wicket haul in a 38-match career, extracting appreciable turn and bounce. He finished with 5-63 in 30 overs, the third time he has taken five against South Africa in five Tests.

South Africa, resuming the day on 75 for three, lost three wickets inthe morning session, leaving Cullinan to resurrect the innings single-handedly. Hylton Ackerman and Mark Boucher chipped in with 13 runs apiece.

South Africa made slow progress to lunch at 141 for six, and after a 33-run stand between Cullinan and Boucher, the innings nose-dived.

Cullinan, who reached his first 50 in 126 minutes and eight fours, took longer for his second, taking three hours and 106 balls.

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings: 303

Story continues below this ad

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings: G Liebenberg lbw b Pushpakumara 0, G Kirsten b Muralitharan 13, H Ackerman b Zoysa 7, D Cullinan c Wickramasinghe b Jayasuriya 103, H Cronje st Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 10, J Kallis c Kaluwitharana b Wickramasinghe 12, S Pollock b Muralitharan 1, M Boucher c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 13, A Donald b Muralitharan 6, P Adams c amp; b Jayasuriya 12, M Ntini not out 2.

Extras 1b, 6lb, 8nb, 6w: 21.

Total: 200.Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-75, 4-103, 5-122, 6-137, 7-170, 8-182, 9-186.

Bowling: Pushpakumara 16-2-55-1 5nb,4w, Zoysa 12-2-29-1 2w, Wickramasinghe 15-2-36-1 1nb, Muralitharan 30-8-63-5 2nb, Jayasuriya 5-2-10-2.