Murali heading for perfect 10

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was on course to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings after removing the first nine Zimbabwe batsmen on the first day of the second Test on Friday.

Muralitharan, who had figures of nine for 51 at the close, almost ruined his chances to take the record when he dislocated his right ring finger shortly before the close.

He dived forward at deep mid wicket but failed to hold on to a catch offered by Henry Olonga off Tilan Samaraweera.

Although team physio Alex Kountouri put back Muralitharan's finger, the last Zimbabwean pair of Travis Friend (28) and Olonga (17) hung on for 73 minutes to deprive the Sri Lankan of his 10th wicket.

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said that Muralitharan had gone to hospital for a precautionary x-ray but should be able to bowl on Saturday.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Zimbabwe were left reeling at 234 as for nine as Muralitharan put the hosts firmly in control at the Asgiriya International Stadium.

Muralitharan is hoping to join Jim Laker of England (10/53 against Australia at Manchester in 1956) and India's Anil Kumble (10/74 against Pakistan at Delhi in 1998-99) as the only bowlers to have taken ten wickets in an innings.

On a flat pitch Muralitharan bowled brilliantly varying his flight and deliveries as Zimbabwe stumbled to 71 for four at lunch and then to 159 for seven at tea.

Only Grant Flower showed some patience to tackle Muralitharan, batting for 223 minutes for a top score of 72 which included seven fours.

Flower and Craig Wishart (26) put together the highest partnership for Zimbabwe, adding 54 for the sixth wicket.

With nine wickets so far, 29-year-old Muralitharan has taken his career tally to 391 wickets from 71 Tests.

Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe got off to a good start when openers Hamilton Masakadza and Trevor Gripper made use of some loose bowling by Chaminda Vaas to put together a stand of 39.

ERRATIC VAAS

However, the entire complexion of the innings changed when Muralitharan replaced the erratic Vaas, who conceded 28 runs off his first four overs.

With his second ball, the off-spinner had Gripper caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip edging a catch off his boot as he attempted to sweep.

Gripper, who hit Vaas for three fours in an over costing 19 runs was out for 20.

Four overs later, Masakadza attempting to work a straight ball to leg was bowled for 10 making Zimbabwe 45 for two.

Muralitharan then had Gavin Rennie stumped by Kumar Sangakkara without scoring and then picked up the prize wicket of Andy Flower for eight.

Flower was out as he attempted a sweep, the ball ricocheted off his bat on to his boot for Sangakkara to hold the resulting catch.

Sri Lanka lead the three-Test series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Colombo by an innings and 166 runs

Mail Cricket Editor