Muttiah Muralitharan spun Sri Lanka to their first Test victory against theWest Indies on Saturday in front of a joyous Galle crowd as theinexperienced tourists batting betrayed their lack of confidence against topclass spin

Charlie Austin17-Nov-2001Muttiah Muralitharan spun Sri Lanka to their first Test victory against theWest Indies on Saturday in front of a joyous Galle crowd as theinexperienced tourists batting betrayed their lack of confidence against topclass spin.Starting the final day on nine for one, 132 runs behind Sri Lanka, the WestIndies had had high hopes of batting out the day on a docile pitch, but werebowled out for 144 shortly before tea.Sri Lanka’s openers quickly knocked off the required runs to bring to an enda remarkable fight-back, started and ended by man of the match Muralitharan.On Wednesday afternoon a Sri Lankan victory appeared inconceivable with theWest Indies so well placed on 423 for four. However, Muralitharan inspired adramatic collapse in which five wickets fell for 25 runs to bowl them outfor 448 and let Sri Lanka back into the game.The home batsmen responded with 590 for nine (doubling their previoushighest score against the West Indies of 233 for eight in 1996/7 at St.Vincent) that spanned three days, to give them an unlikely 142 run lead andprovide Muralitharan with a chance to press for victory on the final day. Anopportunity that was taken, as the mysterious off-spinner picked up yetanother five-wicket haul.The victory was comparable in form to Sri Lanka’s equally astonishingvictory against England at the Oval in 1998 when the English scored 445 inthe first innings only to lose after Muralitharan grabbed 16 wickets.Muralitharan was the catalyst for the turnaround in Galle too, although foronce, he didn’t take the key wickets in the second innings. Still, he endedup with five for 44 in the second innings to finish with 11-169 in thematch.It was the eighth time he has taken ten-wickets in his 67 Test career. Itwas also the third time in consecutive Test matches and it is no wonder thenthat Sri Lanka have now won four out of their five last Tests.The day had begun well enough for the West Indies, with a 67 run partnershipbetween Trinidadian opener Daren Ganga and Guyanan number three RamnareshSarwan, but from the time Ganga sweep a ball from left-arm spinner NiroshanBandaratillake straight into the hands of Tillakaratne at square leg, theinnings slipped away.Having survived the best part of two hours without mishap, the West Indieslost Ganga, Sarwan and Carl Hooper all in the space of 22 minutes, to leavethem precariously placed on 92 for four at lunch.Sarwan had lived a charmed life in the middle, surviving an early shout fromChaminda Vaas and some close appeals from Muralitharan, in a memorable eightover tussle, but looked to have weathered the storm when Jayasuriya withdrewhis premier bowler from the attack.The decision, like many made in the day by Jayasuriya, who changed hisbowlers frequently and astutely, immediately brought dividends as Ganga (33)gifted his wicket.Straight away Muralitharan was pulled back into the attack and with hissecond ball he had Sarwan poking indecisively to be caught by theomnipresent Russel Arnold at silly point for 30.West Indian fate now lay firmly in the hands of the two senior players: Laraand Hooper. Lara had raised eyebrows when he had arrogantly declared thenight before that he was going to bag 150 to save the game, but no oneargued that his and Hooper’s wickets were the key.Bandaratillake ended Hooper’s innings, though, moments before lunch as theGuyanan right-handed drove loosely to be caught at short extra cover by ajubilant Jayasuriya.After lunch, Marlon Samuels (2) was hit on the full by Muralitharan andadjudged lbw to bring Ridley Jacobs to the crease with the score on 93 forfive.Jacobs and Lara raised hopes in a 38 run partnership and were on brink ofwiping out the deficit when disaster struck for the tourists.Off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera, who had not bowled in theinnings and bowled like a drain in the first, came onto bowl in place ofMuralitharan. Lara relaxed and tried to hit his fourth ball over the top. Hemiscued and Muralitharan clung on safely to the catch at mid-wicket.West Indian hopes evaporated and the remaining four wickets tumbled withouta mumour of resistance. The collapse even surpassed their first inningsdebacle, as the last five wickets fell for just 13 runs.West Indies would have had realistic hopes of victory on Thursday afternoon,but leave Galle one-down and distraught. Their one ray of hope will be thefact that Sri Lankan minds are also ill at ease.Kandy, the venue for the next Test in four days time, has been as bad forthem, as Galle has been good, so much so that the superstitious Sri Lankan’srefer to it as the Kandy Hoodoo.West Indies are down, but by no means out.