Muralitharan strikes

Sri Lanka 522 South Africa 81-2

Sri Lanka 522 South Africa 81-2

22 July 2000

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed two cheap wickets to leave South Africa firmly on the back foot as they fought to save the first Test here yesterday. The tourists finished the second day still requiring 242 runs to make Sri Lanka bat again.

Muralitharan dismissed both openers within six balls to reduce South Africa to 30 for 2. The debutant Neil McKenzie was bowled off his pads for 11 and Gary Kirsten gave a catch behind, having made 12.

Jacques Kallis and Darryl Cullinan, with 27 runs apiece, put together a stand of 51 to see their side through the rest of the day.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for their highest-ever total against South Africa, 522, shortly before tea, with Mahela Jayawardene making 167, his third Test hundred. He occupied the crease for 331 minutes, facing 288 balls while hitting 22 fours and two sixes.

He shared an eighth-wicket stand of 117 with Chaminda Vaas, a record for Sri Lanka against any country. Vaas' contribution was a patient knock of 54, his fourth Test half-century, which occupied 170 minutes.