November 18, 2001	Sunday	Ramazan 2, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

GALLE (Sri Lanka), Nov 17: Brian Lara failed to keep his promise to save the West Indies as Muttiah Muralitharan spun Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket win in the first cricket Test here Saturday.

The magical off-spinner claimed five for 44 as the West Indians crashed to 144 in their second innings on the fifth and final day at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka, denied an innings victory by two runs, easily secured their maiden Test win over the West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Muralitharan, who took six wickets in the first innings, finished with a match-haul of 11 as the West Indians crumbled against the sustained pressure applied by the spinners.

Lara, who made 178 in the first innings, had boasted Friday he would score at least 150 in the second — if he got a chance to bat.

“I am ready for them .. at least 150 in the second innings and that is no joke,” he had said.

The temperamental left-hander managed only 40, failing to save his side from a sensational collapse that does not augur well for the tourists in the two Tests ahead.

Muralitharan was well supported by left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratilleke, who finished with two for 46.

The West Indies’ chances of saving the match receded when Lara mistimed a drive off off-spinner Thilan Samaraweera to be caught by Muralitharan at mid-wicket after lunch.

Lara batted for 101 minutes to score two boundaries.

The remaining batsmen, including skipper Carl Hooper, failed to read the home team’s spinners who continued to strike at regular intervals.

The slow bowlers raised victory hopes with three quick wickets in the morning session after the West Indies had resumed at 9-1.

Bandaratilleke bagged two wickets and Muralitharan one as the West Indies lost three wickets for 13 runs in less than six overs.

The Sri Lankan spinners kept the visitors under pressure, despite a stubborn 67-run stand for the second wicket between Daren Ganga (33) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (30).

Bandaratilleke provided the breakthrough when he dismissed Ganga, who was caught sweeping by Hashan Tillekeratne at square-leg after adding 30 to his overnight score.

Sarwan, who rarely looked comfortable against the spinners, was caught off bat and pad by Russel Arnold off Muralitharan.

The West Indies suffered a big blow when Hooper lofted a drive off Bandaratilleke straight to Sanath Jayasuriya in the covers after contributing six.

Meanwhile, Hooper said that there was no easy way to counter Muralitharan.

“When you play against world class bowlers I don’t think you can plan,” he said. “It is not as if he’s got one particularly strength. He bowls virtually everything.

“He’s got a straighter ball, a flighted ball and a flat ball, so basically, you’ve got to play what you see, I don’t think you can plan for someone like Muralitharan.”

Jayasuriya said: “We won because we stuck to the basics against their key players Lara and Hooper.

“Our only worry was Lara and Hooper because they have the experience and know how to handle Murali.

“We didn’t want to try anything silly. As the wicket was turning more, the bowlers concentrated on their line and length.”