CHITTAGONG (Bangladesh), March 2: Ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ripped through Bangladesh’s fragile batting line-up as Sri Lanka took command of the first Test on Thursday.
The 33-year-old spinner, who had taken three wickets in the first innings, also passed a unique milestone of 1,000 wickets in international cricket during his lethal spell.
The off-spinner grabbed 6-54 on the third day to skittle the home side out for a meagre 181 in their second innings after they had restricted the first innings lead for Sri Lanka to 19 runs.
Set 163 for a win, Sri Lanka were 25 without loss in their second innings, needing another 138 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Muralitharan’s 49th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings virtually sealed their fate after Bangladesh had put up a brave fight in the first innings.
Muralitharan, playing his 100th Test, needed five wickets to touch the four-figure mark before the match, having bagged 584 wickets in the longer version and 411 in One-day Internationals.
He reached the mark with the scalp of former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud (15) and also picked up the important wickets of first innings centurion Mohammad Ashraful (one) and top-scorer Mohammad Rafique (40).
Muralitharan got in on the act after paceman Dilhara Fernando pegged Bangladesh back.
Openers Javed Omar (31) and Nafees Iqbal (6) added 47 for a decent start before both fell to Fernando. Nafees edged a ball to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara and Javed was trapped lbw nine runs later.
Earlier, pace bowler Shahadat Hossain struck three times for Bangladesh in the morning session as Sri Lanka lost their remaining four wickets for just 25 runs.
Shahadat used the short ball to good effect as overnight batsman Thilan Samaraweera (58) and tail-enders Fernando (six) and Muralitharan (five) all perished playing the pull shot, caught on the leg side.
Shahadat finished with 4-83, his best haul in four Tests and the second time he has taken four wickets in a Test innings after his 4-108 against Sri Lanka in Colombo last year.
The second and final Test will be held in Bogra from March 8.