South Africans make 361

Muralitharan another five wickets :

Dinesh Weerawansa

TEST CRICKET: Sri Lanka failed to make full use of the early advantage they had as South Africa made 361 all out in their first innings on the opening day of their second and final Test begun at Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo yesterday.

It looked as if it was a good toss to lose by Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena.

Deciding to take first lease on a good batting strip, the visitors slumped to 31 for 3 in the eighth over. With the total on 70 in the 21st over, South Africa lost their fourth wicket and were in deep trouble.

As expected, Sri Lanka went into the second Test with left-arm quick bowler Chaminda Vaas coming in at the expense of Dilhara Fernando.

Though it looked Farveez Maharoof would be sacked to accommodate Vaas, the former was lucky to retain his place after Fernando was forced to pull out due to a strain.

Vaas, Sri Lanka's most successful fast bowler ever with over 300 Test wickets, signalled his return to the side in the second ball of the morning. South African opener Herschelle Gibbs was ruled leg before for a 'duck' against Vaas off a ball that was pitched on middle and leg and straightened. That was even before South Africa had opened their account.

Three overs later Sri Lanka got rid of Gibbs' opening partner - Andrew Hall (0), trying to drive Lasith Malinga, resulting a low catch to second slip by Tillakaratne Dilshan.

With the addition of 27 runs to South African total, Malinga struck once more as Jacques Rudolph (13) attempted to drive. When the things just looked good for the visitors, off spin wizard Muralitharan came into the picture.

Going on the back foot to a good length delivery which turned back sharply, Amla (40) was ruled leg before as the visitors were struggling at 70 for 4 in the 21st over.

Then came the brightest spot in the South African innings as Ashwell Prince (86 runs off 144 balls in 207 minutes with 13 fours) and A.B. de Villiers (95 runs off 141 balls in 182 minutes with 18 fours) shared a valuable 161-run stand for the fifth wicket. The first 50 runs of their partnership came in just 45 balls.

The duo were in total control, punishing all Sri Lankan bowlers, including Muralitharan, with a run rate of over four runs per over.

Despite some hard work by South African middle order to restore their innings Sri Lanka fought back in the final session. Despite an unbeaten 57 (off 70 balls in 106 minutes with two sixes and five boundaries) by veteran Shaun Pollock who returned to the side, Sri Lanka came back strongly as Muralitharan completed another five-wicket haul, for the 55th time.

Thus, the ace Lankan bowler, completed 650 Test wickets in his 108th match.

At lunch, South Africa were 113 for 4 in 27 overs with Prince (28 n.o) and De Villiers (31 n.o) at the wicket. Sri Lankan bowlers went wicketless in the post lunch session as the visitors added 118 runs to take tea at 231 for 4 in 57 overs with Prince on 86 and De Villiers on 88.

The first 50 runs of the South African innings came off 14.4 overs and they reached 100 runs in 25.5 overs.

But the next 100 runs in their innings came off just 21 overs. South Africa went pass 300-run mark in the 74th over.

But misfortune struck the African camp after tea as Muralitharan came back with his champion stuff.

Prince departed second ball after tea, caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardena off Muralitharan. De Villiers, the top scorer in the South African innings, missed his century by just five runs, to be caught behind by Jayawardena off Malinga.

The visitors had black bands in their arms to mourn the death of Soloman Makosana. The President of the SA's Western Province Cricket Association, who died in Cape Town yesterday.

SOUTH AFRICA
 - 1ST INNINGS

H. Gibbs lbw b Vaas				 0
A. Hall c Dilshan b Malinga			 0
J. Rudolph b Malinga				13
H. Amla lbw b Muralitharan			40
A. Prince c P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan	86
A.B. de Villiers c P. Jayawardene b Malinga	95
M. Boucher b Muralitharan			32
S. Pollock not out				57
N. Boje c Sangakkara b Maharoof			11
D. Steyn c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan		 6
M. Ntini c Maharoof b Muralitharan		13
Extras: (w1, nb7)				 8
TOTAL						361

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0, 2-4, 3-31, 4-70, 5-231, 
6-256, 7-273, 8-307, 9-327.

BOWLING: Vaas 18-4-71-1, Malinga 18-4-81-3, Muralitharan 33.5-2-128-5,
 Maharoof 15-2-52-1, Jayasuriya 5-0-29-0.
Overs: 89.5
Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Tyronne Wijewardene
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
SRI LANKA: Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumara Sangakkara, 
Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, 
Chamara Kapugedera, Prasanna Jayawardena, Chaminda Vaas, 
Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.