Muralitharan edges closer to 800 Test wickets as India struggle (Lunch Report)

more images

more images

GALLE - Muttiah Muralitharan picked up three wickets to move closer to becoming the first bowler to get 800 Test wickets as India slumped to 260 for eight in their first innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here Wednesday.

Indian batsmen paid the price of poor shot selection as the visitors now need 61 runs to avoid a follow-on at the Galle International Stadium. Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 520 for eight Tuesday.

Tailenders Ishant Sharma (0) and Pragyan Ojha (1) were batting at the lunch break. Resuming at the overnight score of 140 for three, India scored 120 runs for the loss of five wickets in the morning session.

A set Virender Sehwag (109) was the first to depart after scoring his 20th Test century. It was an aggressive innings from Sehwag, who smashed 19 fours and a six in his 118 ball knock. Sehwag was dismissed in his trademark style while chasing a wide delivery off seamer Chanaka Welegedara and was caught by Tharanga Paranavitana at slip.

V.V.S. Laxman (22) also departed soon as he fell top-edging a half-hearted pull shot off Lasith Malinga and was caught at deep by Tillekratne Dilshan as India slumped from 169 for three to 178 for five.

Yuvraj Singh (52) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) then tried a repair act with their 74-run stand but Muralitharan, playing his last Test, picked up both the batsmen with brilliant deliveries. The Sri Lankan bowler is now five short of the 800 Test wicket-mark.