COLOMBO, June 13: Sri Lanka's spin bowlers sealed a 164-run victory over New Zealand with a day to spare today as the host nation took the three-Test cricket series 2-1. Muthiah Muralitharan and Niroshan Bandaratilake took nine wickets between them to dismiss New Zealand for 131 runs on the fourth day of the third Test. New Zealand, set a difficult target of 296 for victory, were all out 42 minutes before tea with Muralitharan finishing with five for 30 and Bandaratilake four for 52.Muralitharan took the `Man of the Series' Award. Wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, who scored a superb 88 in Sri Lanka's second innings to turn the match around, was declared the `Man of the Match'.
Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga became the first captain in the game's history to come from behind and win a three-Test series twice. He first did so in Pakistan in 1995-96.
SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND (2nd innings): B Young st Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 24, C Spearman c and b Muralitharan 22, S Fleming lbwDharmasena 3, N Astle c and b Muralitharan 16, M Horne c Kaluwitharana b Bandaratilake 12, C McMillan c Jayewardene b Muralitharan 1, A Parore b Bandaratilake 2, C Cairns b Bandaratilake 26, M Priest b Bandaratilake 2, D Vettori b Muralitharan 3, P Wiseman not out 0. Extras (b 6, lb 10, nb 4): 20. Total (54.3 overs): 131
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-57, 3-63, 4-82, 5-84, 6-93, 7-105, 8-128, 9-131
Bowling: Wickremasinghe 6-2-5-0, Bandaratilake 17-3-52-4, A de Silva 3-0-14-0, Dharmasena 10-2-14-1, Muralitharan 18.3-8-30-5
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
