India Vs Sri Lanka: M&M mutilate India again

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Neetu Banga

23 July, 2010

In 133 Test matches, Muralitharan took 800 wickets, conceding an average of 22 runs per wicket and bowling 55 balls per wicket. He said he had no regrets quitting the game after his dream send-off and he had done enough for Sri Lanka.

IT WAS not luck; but it was the sheer genius of Muttiah Muralitharan at Galle that broke the backbone of Team India's experienced batting line-up. In the last series in 2008, it was M&M ( Muralitharan and Malinga) combination, which damaged the Indian team. In this match again M&M combo has wreaked havoc on Team India and sent them packing their bags and won the match in style. Muralitharan collected his 67th five and becomes the first cricketer to scalp 800 wickets in the test career.

Muralitharan left India to struggle in the first innings by dismissing MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh and forced India to bat again. In the second inning, Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga knocked the fight out of Indians by removing top players Sachin Tendullkar and Rahul Dravid.

After this India were left with an uphill task on the final day of match. The hosts dismissed the world's number one team for 338 in their second innings, a total largely built around rough assistance from tail enders. The Sri Lankan openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (68 not out) and Tharanga Paranavitana (23 not out) showed great urgency to get the required runs on the final day to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.It was Muralitharan's day, he not only put his team in a strong position but also managed to get 800 wickets in his last test match.

There was huge celebration for Muralitharan's final test match and his large cutouts stood on a 17th century Dutch fort. At the end, Team India and Sri Lankan players formed a guard of honour while fireworks were set off. He was given red-carpet welcome to the ground. Even Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is great fan of Muralitharan was present during the lunch break and presented memento to him. Galle District Cricket association has presented him with a gem-studded ivory carving of an elephant.

In 133 Test matches, Muralitharan took 800 wickets, conceding an average of 22 runs per wicket and bowling 55 balls per wicket. He said he had no regrets quitting the game after his dream send-off and he had done enough for Sri Lanka. He will continue to play limited-over’s cricket, meaning he will be available for next year's World Cup.

The two teams will now travel to Colombo for the second Test starting July 26 and another defeat could dislodge India from the number one position. If Sri Lanka wins the series 2-0, India would lose four rating points and come down to the third position behind South Africa. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will gain six points and become the number one team.