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'The perfect game'

Murali, Mendis spin SL to 1-0 lead

AFP, Colombo
Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis made a mockery of India's strong batting reputation as Sri Lanka won the opening Test by a record innings and 239 runs here on Saturday.
Maverick off-spinner Muralidaran finished the match with 11 wickets as India were shot out for 138 in their second innings after conceding a lead of377on the fourth day.
He was brilliantly supported by debutant Mendis, an unorthodox spinner with plenty of variation, who took eight wickets in the match to also play a crucial role in his team's victory with a day to spare.
It was Sri Lanka's biggest win over India in 27 Tests, the previous being by an innings and 77 runs at the same venue in 2001.
"We probably played a perfect game,' said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayaward ene.
"We put pressure on the Indians by scoring 600 runs. It was no t a bad wicket to bat on, but Murali and Mendis bowled brilliandy. It is a good feeling that four of our top
seven batsmen got hundreds."
The Indian batsmen, always considered better against spin than pace, looked clueless against the Sri Lankan spin duo, who kept striking at regular intervals even on an easy-paced track.
The tourists lost 14 wickets against spin in the day, including four in the first innings.
None of the Indian batsmen could read the spin duo as the tourists' second innings lasted just 45 overs, with man-of-the-match Muralidaran grabbing 6-26 and Mendis 4-60 during their almost unplayable spells.
India were earlier bowled out for 223 in their first innings in reply to the hosts’ massive 600-6 declared.
Indian opener Virender Sehwag (13), star batsman Sachin Tendulkar (12) and Rahul Dravid (10) were initially given not out by umpires
Mark Benson of England and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies.
But the Sri Lankan captain requested the officials to review the decisions under a new experimental rule and they changed their decisions after consulting TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa.
"The review system is still an experiment. It has to be reviewed at the end of the (three-Test) series," said India captain Anil Kumble.
"It was tough for us to draw the ma tch after they scored 600. The spells by their spinners were great. Mendis is a find for Sri Lanka and you cannot take Murali out of the picture."
Sehwag was trapped leg-before by Muralidaran, while Tendulkar was caught by a diving Tillakaratne Dilshan at leg-slip off the same bowler after TV replays showed the ball hit pad and bat.
SEE PAGE 18 COL 6 FROM PAGE 17
Dravid was caught bat-pad by close-in fielder Malinda Wamapura off Mendis
India tailed to cope with spin for a second successive time in the match, with opener Gautam Gambhir top-scoring with 43.
Venkatsai Laxman, promoted in the batting order following his first-innings 56, contributed 21 this time before being trapped leg-before by Mendis, while Gambhir was stumped off Muralidaran after being beaten in the flight
Muralidaran earlier took 5-84 in the first innings and Mendis 4-72. SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard on the fourth day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Saturday: SRI LANKA: First innings 600-6 deci (Wamapura 115, M Jayawardene 136, Samaraweera 127,Dilshanl25notout)
INDIA: First innings (overnight 159-6)
Gambhir c Samaraweera
b Muralidaran 39
Sehwag c Wamapura b Kulasekara 25
Dravid b Mendis 14_
Tendulkarb.Muralidaran 27
Ganguly c Kulasekara bMuralidaran 23
Laxman b Mendis 56
Karthik c& bMuralidaran 9
Kumble lbw b Mendis 1
Harbhajan c Wamapura
b Muralidaran 9
Zaheer lbwb Mendis 5
Sharma not out 13
Extras: (lb-2) 2
Total: (All out in 72.5 overs) 223
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-79, 3-79, 4 123, 5-138, 6-147, 7-170, 8-181, 9-188,10-223.
Bowler O M R W
Vaas 5 0 23 0
Kulasekara 11 2 42 1
Mendis 27.5 5 72 4
Muralidaran 29 4 84 5
INDIA: Second innings
Gambhir st P Jayawardene b Muralidaran 43
Sehwag lbw bMuralidaran 13
Laxman lbwb Mendis 21
Tendufkarc Dishan bMuralidaran 12
Dravid cWarnapurab Mendis 10
Ganguly c Dilshan b Muralidaran 4 Karthik c M Jayawardene
b Muralidaran 0
Kumble b Muralidaran 12
Harbhajan b Mendis 15
Zaheer b Mendis 3
Sharma not out 5
Total: (All out in 45 overs) 138
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-53, 3-82, 4 95, 5-103, 6-103, 7-103, 8-120, 9-133,10-138.
Bowler O M R W
Vaas 5 0 27 0
Kulasekara 9 3 25 0
Mendis 18 3 60 4
Muralidaran 13 3 26 6
Result: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 239 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Muttiah Muralidaran.