Murali magic downs valiant England

Muttiah Muralitharan bowled two magical deliveries when it mattered most to hand Sri Lanka an 88-run win over a fighting England in the first Test in Kandy on Wednesday.

The off-spinner, who became Test cricket’s most successful bowler in the first innings, got out Matt Prior and Ian Bell in the space of three deliveries with the second new ball to end England’s spirited challenge.

The tourists, needing to bat out the final day for a draw after being set an improbable victory target of 350, were bowled out for 261 in the last 30 minutes of the match at the Asgiriya stadium.

Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series going into the second Test, which opens at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday.

England, who resumed the final day at 9-1 in their second knock, slumped to 90-5 in the morning session before Bell (74) launched a heroic rescue attempt in the company of the lower order batsmen.

He put on 49 for the sixth wicket with debutant Ravi Bopara (34) and a defiant 109 for the seventh with wicket-keeper Prior (63) that threatened to frustrate Sri Lanka’s victory bid. Muralitharan, kept wicketless for 31 overs, struck in his second over with the new ball when he floated a straight one to Prior, who missed the line and was bowled.

Two balls later in a new over, Muralitharan bowled Bell to effectively seal his side’s victory. Bell’s knock followed his 83 in the first innings.

Muralitharan claimed a third wicket when he earned a lucky leg-before decision against Ryan Sidebottom from Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf with television replays showing a clear edge from the bat.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga yorked Matthew Hoggard to signal Sri Lanka’s thrilling victory in front of 7,000 spectators, including at least 3,000 travelling English supporters. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene hailed the win as a “great effort” after the hosts had conceded a first innings lead of 93 runs.

“For us to come back and win this Test match was a great effort,” he said.

“It was a very good lead for England. We had to really dig deep and show a lot of character to come back.” Jayawardene praised man of the match Kumar Sangakkara for his 152 in the second innings and Muralitharan’s efforts through the game.

Clarke named Aussies Twenty20 Captain

Michael Clarke has been named captain of Australia for the Twenty20 international against New Zealand at the WACA on Tuesday.

 Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have been rested as part of Australia’s rotation system allowing for Clarke to take the reigns, notably ahead of vice-captain Adam Gilchrist.

Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch suggested the move to give the 26-year old the captaincy was to enhance the leadership skills of Clarke.

“It’s very important that we have forward planning, this is a long term initiative to make sure that we have strong leadership whenever Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist and for that matter Mike Hussey are no longer in Australian cricket,” Hilditch said.

The other notable selection decision was the inclusion of Queenslander Ashley Noffke, Hilditch sung the praises of the all-rounder.

“He’s had an outstanding season to date, (we) couldn’t be more pleased with the way he’s going, he’s bowling beautifully, (and) obviously the Twenty20 is probably a reward for his all-round skills,” he said.

Noffke was suitably chuffed with his selection.

“I was pretty happy with how I’d been going and I was hoping that I was creating some sort of interest in my name,” he said.

“Getting selected is a pat on the back for myself and everyone that has helped me on that journey, yeah I’m pretty happy, but it’s by no means the end.”

The 30-year old who gained a Cricket Australia contract in 2001 and has been part of Test squads that toured England and the West Indies was coy about talk of Test selection.

“Hopefully I’ll be seen as a good option…going on the West Indies tour and just seeing what Test cricket is about was brilliant and I’d love to be a part of that,” he said.

Shaun Tait and Adam Voges were the other notable inclusions, Tait returned to first-class cricket last week in thumping fashion with career best figures of 7-29.

Hilditch was keen to hold his cards close to his chest when it came to the make up of the Boxing Day Test team and the possibility of a four-pronged pace attack, but he did suggest Tait would be in the reckoning.

Brad Hogg was surprisingly left out of the side but Hilditch was quick to point out that the make-up of the one-day side will differ to the Twenty20 squad.