Cricket: Muralitharan makes Zimbabwe suffer

cricket

Muralitharan makes Zimbabwe suffer

Zimbabwe produced a better batting performance against Sri Lanka in their second innings in the first Test in Kandy but they ended the fourth day at 289 for 7, needing a further 40 runs to avert an innings defeat. Zimbabwe were cruising at 261 for 4 runs, but they slumped to trouble to 271 for 7 when off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran struck to remove Andrew Flower for 67 and Craig Wishart for a "duck" within the space of three deliveries, after which the paceman Chaminda Vaas, with the new ball, got rid of Alistair Campbell leg-before for 40. Muralitheran ended the day with 5 for 78, which made him only the second Sri Lankan after Vaas to take 10 wickets in a match.