Murali woos Windies with doosra

Champion offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan had the West Indian batsmen in an absolute spin, as he forced Sri Lanka to a 2-0 series result, with a 240-run victory in the 2nd Test. Muralitharan claimed 8 for 46, completing a match haul of 10 for 83.

Set an imposing target of 378 for victory, the West Indian batsmen had no answer for the spin, collapsing from 38/1 to 137 all out in the space of 30 overs. Xavier Marshall was the only batsman who was the victim of pace, as he was trapped in front of the stumps by Malinga for 1.

At the fall of Marshall’s wicket, the score read 2/1, but debutant Ryan Ramdass (23) and Runako Morton (9) steadily rebuilt. Seemingly from calm, the breakthrough was evident. Morton played across the doosra from Murali and was trapped LBW – 38/2.

Chanderpaul joined his fellow Guyanese, Ramdass, and the two added a further 11 runs when the former was caught at silly point, pushing forward to the doosra. A ball later, Sylvester Joseph too was back in the pavilion. As Ramdass and Morton before him, Joseph played to the legside for the offbreak and instead received the doosra, which he popped up to silly point.

Narsingh Deonarine calmly negotiated the hat-trick delivery and set about to attempt the impossible alongside his captain. The two built a partnership of 28 against the spin threat, but were made to part ways as Chanderpaul was snared at silly point off the bowling of Herath. The West Indies captain contributed 24.

In dire straits with a description of 77/5, still needing 201 runs for victory, Denesh Ramdin took to the middle. The game all but lost, Ramdin and Deonarine set about to try to build some respect for the team.

Deonarine (29) battled bravely in resistance, but was ultimately bowled as he missed an attempted cut shot against Muralitharan. Wrapping up the tail was then a formality, as only Ramdin (28) showed any fight, and he was ninth out, bowled by the doosra.

Victory arrived with a cushion of 240 runs, with Sangakkara (157 not out) and Herath (15 not out) having earlier pushed on to 375/7 declared in the morning session, resuming on the overnight 340/7. For his efforts as the only man to cross 50, let alone 150 in the match, Sangakkara was awarded the Man of the Match title.

As expected, the series result read a 2-0 whitewash, as has become typical of the West Indies abroad, albeit with an under-strength team. Although absent from the second innings due to injury, Chaminda Vaas’ profound impact on the series earned him the Man of the Series award.

Score Summary:

Sri Lanka 1st innings 150 all out (46.1 overs)
TT Samaraweera 37, TM Dilshan 36
DB Powell 5/25, TL Best 3/50

West Indies 1st innings 148 all out (58.1 overs)
NO Deonarine 40, TL Best 26 not out
WPUJC Vaas 6/22, M Muralitharan 2/37

Sri Lanka 2nd innings 375/7 (107 overs)
KC Sangakkara 157 not out, TM Dilshan 49, DPMD Jayawardene 43
JJC Lawson 3/104, OAC Banks 2/47, DB Powell 2/89

West Indies 2nd innings 137 all out (41.2 overs)
NO Deonarine 29, D Ramdin 28, S Chanderpaul 24
M Muralitharan 8/46, HMRKB Herath 1/29

Result: Sri Lanka won by 240 runs
Man of the Match: KC Sangakkara