COLOMBO, 15 September 2005 — Muttiah Muralitharan took six for 18 as Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 96 runs on the third day of the first Test yesterday after the visitors crashed to their lowest Test score.
Bangladesh, who started the third day on 36-3 still trailing by 146 runs, lost wickets early and were eventually bowled out for 86 in 27.4 overs.
Muralitharan followed his double-strike late on day two with the wickets of Tushar Imran for three, Aftab Ahmed for eight and Mohammad Rafique for four in quick succession.
Imran was bowled by an off break that spun sharply and kept low, Ahmed was caught at slip off his doosra and Rafique top-edged a catch to short fine leg.
Pace bowler Lasith Malinga chipped in with two wickets, bowling Khaled Mashud for 15 and Syed Rasel for one with fast yorkers, to finish with 3-32 from six overs.
Muralitharan then wrapped up the match when Enamul Haque jnr was stumped, becoming the fourth batsmen to be deceived by Muralitharan’s doosra, a delivery that spins in the opposite direct to his stock off break.
Muralitharan’s five-wicket haul was his 47th in Test cricket — an extension of his own world record — and he finished with match figures of 9-60 from 24.2 overs Bangladesh’s defeat was their 23rd innings defeat in 39 Tests since being given Test status in 2000 and their eighth innings defeat in their last 10 Test matches.
“We had a chance to make a good first innings score and if you don’t take your chance against a side like Sri Lanka then you are going to pay,” skipper Habibul Bashar said afterwards.
“We bowled and fielded well but with the bat we are just not doing what we have to do in Tests at the moment,” he added.
Bangladesh will now have four days to re-group before the second and final Test of the series starting next Monday in Colombo.
Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu praised his bowlers but called for an improved performance from his batsmen.
“We set ourselves individual targets for this Test and we did not achieve those targets with the bat,” said Atapattu.
Stamp Honor for England’s
Cricket Heroes
In London, after their first class victory over Australia, England’s victorious Ashes cricket team are to be honored with a set of stamps, the Royal Mail said yesterday.
England triumphed over their oldest foes and the world’s best side, winning the five-Test series 2-1 to reclaim the Ashes trophy after a 16-year wait. Images of England’s new sporting heroes will feature on the special commemorative set, but it is not yet known which players.
All-rounder Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was named man of the series. Of particular interest will be the 68 pence stamp (one euro, 1.24 dollars) — needed to send a letter to Australia.
Royal Mail spokeswoman Julietta Edgar said: “England’s victory in the Ashes series certainly counts as a momentous occasion, making it an ideal topic for a set of Royal Mail special stamps.
“I’m sure the public will love using these stamps every day to continue the legacy of this sporting achievement.” The Royal Mail issued a special set of stamps after England’s rugby union team won the 2003 World Cup, and when London won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games in July.
