BULAWAYO, May 17: Muttiah Muralitharan took four wickets as Sri Lanka humiliated Zimbabwe by an innings for the second Test in succession on Monday to wrap up the series 2-0.
The off-spinner bowled almost without a break from one end to take four for 79 from 28.1 overs as Sri Lanka won the second Test here by an innings and 254 runs an hour after lunch on the fourth day.
Zimbabwe, needing 485 to make Sri Lanka bat again, were dismissed for 231, their fate sealed when they lost six wickets for 48 in 14 overs either side of lunch. The result capped a successful tour for Sri Lanka, who won the one-day series 5-0 and won the first Test by an innings and 240 runs, but those successes were achieved against woefully out-classed opponents.
After Sri Lanka's first innings of 713 for three, the ninth highest total in test history, the home side had resumed on 44 for two and enjoyed their best session of the series as Brendan Taylor (61) and Dion Ebrahim (42) defended well while taking their chances to score.
But seven overs before lunch Taylor attempted to work a delivery from Muralitharan to the leg side and fell to a looping catch taken at silly mid-off by Mahela Jayawardene.
Taylor showed grit for his maiden Test half-century. He batted for more than three hours, faced 142 balls and hit six fours and a six, and his dismissal ended a third-wicket stand of 85.
In Muralitharan's next over captain Tatenda Taibu attempted a defensive stroke and popped a catch to Tillekeratne Dilshan at silly mid-on to be dismissed for a duck.
Three overs later Sanath Jayasuriya, bowling his left-arm spin, aimed a delivery at Ebrahim's pads and the batsman flicked a catch to Marvan Atapattu at leg slip. Zimbabwe's collapse resumed in the fifth over after lunch when Alester Maregwede was trapped in front for 28 by left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas.
Vaas struck again three balls later when Mluleki Nkala edged to Dilshan at third slip to fall for a duck. Next ball Muralitharan trapped Elton Chigumbura in front for 12.
Number 10 Tinashe Panyangara scored a breezy 40 not out off 45 balls with six fours to nurse Zimbabwe past 200. Meanwhile, Ebrahim has been suspended for one Test for his comments regarding Muralitharan.
Ebrahim was the recipient of a surprise orthodox leg-break from Muralitharan on the first day of this Test on Friday. "That was the first legal delivery he bowled, that's my personal opinion," Ebrahim said after the close of play.
Sri Lanka accused Ebrahim of bringing the game into disrepute, and International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Procter found him guilty at a hearing on Sunday.
A ZCU media release later added: "The Sri Lanka team wrote to... Procter saying they took 'very serious offence' at the remark. "Ebrahim pleaded guilty saying he had not realised the seriousness of his statement, and that he had said it more in jest during a telephone interview.
"Procter pointed out that while he could have given Ebrahim a fine, he took the batsman's statement in serious light and so decided on the one Test match ban."
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings) 228 (D.D. Ebrahim 70).
SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 713-3 declared (K.C. Sangakkara 270, M.S. Atapattu 249, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 100 not out).
ZIMBABWE (2nd Innings, overnight 44-2):
S. Matsikenyeri c P. J'dene b Zoysa 14
B.R.M. Taylor c M. J'dene b Muralitharan 61
M.A. Vermeulen c Muralitharan b Zoysa 6
D.D. Ebrahim c Atapattu b Jayasuriya 42
T. Taibu c Dilshan b Muralitharan 0
A. Maregwede lbw b Vaas 28
E. Chigumbura lbw b Muralitharan 12
M.L. Nkala c Dilshan b Vaas 0
T. Panyangara not out 40
T. Mupariwa c Vaas b Jayasuriya 14
D.T. Hondo c Atapattu b Muralitharan 3
EXTRAS (LB-7, W-1, NB-3) 11
TOTAL (all out, 75.1 overs) 231
FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-40, 3-125, 4-127, 5-143, 6-173, 7-173, 8-173, 9-204.
