Muttiah Muralidaran returned to his devastating best and put an end to Bangladesh's fightback on the third day as Sri Lanka were comfortably placed to win the first Test of the two-match series at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday.

The 33-year old spin wizard also

reached a milestone as he became the first ever bowler who bag 1000 international wickets after dismissing Bangladesh wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud.

Muralidaran's 6-54 helped the tourists wrap up Bangladesh's second innings for 181 and make the off-spinner's hundredth Test a memorable one th a nine-wicket haul.

Sri Lanka, who need further 138 runs to win, reached 25 without loss before bad light stopped the day's action with 7.3 overs reaming.

Bangladesh got off to a bright start when Shahadat Hossain dashed the visiting team's hope of taking a handsome first-innings lead as the Narayanganj quick removed danger man Thilan Samaraweera (58) in the fifth over.

Javed Omar flew back to take a spectacular catch wide of square leg, inspiring the young paceman pick up two more wickets to finish with 4-83, his best in Test cricket after taking 4108 against the same opponents in September last year. His efforts helped the Tigers book Sri Lanka for 338 after resuming on 313-6.

Trailing by 19 runs, Bangladesh openers Javed and Nafees Iqbal looked set to keep the pressure on the opponents but Dilhara Fernando removed both of the batsmen to reduce Bangladesh to 56-2.

Captain Habibul Bashar failed to serve in crisis as he was trapped lbw by leg-spinner Malinga Bandara in similar fashion to the firstinnings.

Muralidaran soon began the carnage taking a sweet revenge against Mohammad Ashraful, who was spectacularly caught by Upul Tharanga at forward short leg. Ashraful, who made a magnificent century in the first innings, was dismissed for one.

Mashud joined Shahriar Nafees to repair the damage but a controversial decision by Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf ended the 59-run fifth wicket stand.

Bangladesh managed to put on a decent total in the end, thanks to a quickfire 49-ball 40 by Mohammad Rafique, who smote two big sixes off Muralidaran.