Vaas upstages Muralitharan

Zimbabwe 236 and 68-3 Sri Lanka 505

Zimbabwe are teetering on the brink of another innings defeat and a series whitewash after Chaminda Vaas left them reeling with both bat and ball in Kandy yesterday.

On the third day of a second Test that has been dominated by the exceptional efforts of Muttiah Muralitharan, Vaas hit an unbeaten 72 to help Sri Lanka to what should prove a match-winning total of 505.

The fast bowler then claimed two quick wickets with the new ball as Zimbabwe struggled to 68 for 3 at the close, still 201 runs adrift.

Muralitharan took the other wicket, that of Stuart Carlisle, to register his 10th 10-wicket match, surpassing the New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee's previous best of nine. Muralitharan had ripped through the Zimbabwe order in the first innings to finish with figures of 9 for 51.

But after the spinner's heroics came another sensational batting display from Sri Lanka, who now lie third in the International Cricket Council's Test Championship, a rise that has been catalysed by batting displays such as yesterday's.

In their six consecutive Test victories since August 2001, Sri Lanka have passed the 500 mark five times – twice breaking the 600 barrier. And an eighth-wicket stand of 111 between Vaas and Charitha Buddika allowed the hosts to post another daunting total.

Resuming on 334 for 4, Russel Arnold watched at the other end as, first, Hashan Tillakaratne was trapped lbw for 37, and then Thilan Samaraweera was caught behind off Travis Friend for 17.

From 365 for 6, Sri Lanka soon slipped to 388 for 7 when Arnold, who had dropped a chance on Saturday morning that would have given Muralitharan his bowling world-record sooner, was caught by Craig Wishart for a fine 71.

But Vaas and Buddika, in his first innings for Sri Lanka, frustrated the tourists with an excellent stand that took the score to 499 before the part-time bowler Hamilton Masakadza claimed his first Test wicket.

Buddika was caught for 45 and, though Nuwan Zoysa soon followed, run out for four, and Muralitharan offered little resistance to Heath Streak, Vaas's unbeaten 72 confirmed Sri Lanka's place in the driving seat.

And it was a position strengthened further when he took the new ball. Masakadza was bowled by Vaas's opening delivery and the captain Carlisle followed for nine, caught by Marvan Atapattu, as Zimbabwe slumped to 16 for 2. Trevor Gripper hit 21 before he was trapped leg before by Muralitharan to leave Gavin Rennie unbeaten on 26 and the out-of-sorts Andy Flower on six with Zimbabwe in deep trouble.