GALLE, 9 August 2004 — Sri Lanka’s spin attack, led by Muttiah Muralitharan, was thwarted as South Africa put up a determined effort and salvaged a draw in the first Test of a two-match series here yesterday.
Muralitharan’s haul of 82 wickets in 10 previous Tests at the venue stood for nothing as the off-spinner struggled to get the breakthroughs his team was looking for on a pitch that took slow turn.
South Africa, set a target of 325 in a minimum of 93 overs, scored 203-3 at close of the final day’s play at the Galle International Stadium after starting the day at seven for no loss.
Jacques Kallis (52) and Jacques Rudolph (27) were the not out batsmen as Sri Lanka’s quest to take ten wickets on the final day ended in a damp squib.
The home side had declared their second innings at 214-9 on Saturday after taking a 110-run lead.
Sri Lanka, who had won six of their previous 10 Tests at the venue and lost just two, thus failed to go one-up in a bid to win their first Test series against South Africa.
The only satisfaction for Muralitharan, who took 4-130 in an unimpressive first innings effort, was that he left Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne behind in their race for Test wickets.
The two spinners shared the world record of 527 before this match but Muralitharan went to 532 after his five scalps in Galle, toiling hard for his one scalp in the second innings.
Muralitharan, who can not bowl his away-going “doosra” delivery as per directions from the International Cricket Council, proved ineffective as first Graeme Smith (74) and then Kallis batted solidly for half-centuries.
“It was surprising to see the slow turn on this pitch,” said captain Marvan Atapattu. “Murali too did not bowl very well in this match but we hope to see him back among the wickets soon.” Sri Lanka were left frustrated and even Kumar Sangakkara, who is a wicketkeeper but playing this Test as a specialist batsman, got to bowl for the first time in international cricket.
Left-handed Smith led the visiting side’s fightback as he was out at the stroke of tea after resuming the day on five.
He was playing a delivery from leg-spinner Upul Chandana, and as the ball went towards the stumps, he kicked it in an attempt to save his wicket but instead hit the ball on to the stumps.
He faced 209 balls and hit five fours after taking 142 deliveries to reach his sixth fifty, which came with a single to mid-on off Muralitharan.
Kallis, who had scored an aggressive 51 in the first innings, was more subdued in the second innings hitting six fours off 129 balls.
Earlier, South Africa lost Boeta Dippenaar (11) caught by Mahela Jayawardene at silly-point off Muralitharan but the batsmen batted well thereafter. Martin Van Jaarsveld, who scored 37 in the first innings, once again fell when he looked set for a big score. He was trapped lbw by off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan for 29 off 74 balls with five fours.
The second Test will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo from Wednesday.
