Sri Lanka take charge in first Test

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took five for 23 to force Zimbabwe to follow on in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Friday.

Zimbabwe were bundled out for 140 on the third day after adding just six runs to their score at tea. They are 329 runs behind Sri Lanka's first innings total of 469 for nine declared.

It was Muralitharan's 10th five-wicket haul in Test matches. He bowled 18 maidens in his 29 overs. Left-arm spinner Jayantha Silva did the remaining damage, claiming three for 27.

With the exception of left-handed opener Gavin Rennie, who scored a defiant 53 in 281 minutes, and Paul Strang's innings of 35, the rest of the Zimbabwe batting just crumbled.

The same spinners destroyed Zimbabwe's batting on their last tour to Sri Lanka in 1996-97, taking 27 wickets between them in the two tests.

Zimbabwe lost skipper Alistair Campbell for seven in the sixth over after lunch when he edged a catch to Roshan Mahanama at fourth slip. Craig Wishart did not last long going in similar fashion for three, also caught by Mahanama off Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka first innings

469 for 9 declared

(Marvan Atapattu 223, Aravinda de Silva 75, Paul Strang 3 for 123, Andrew Whittal 3 for 73)

Zimbabwe first innings

• Gavin Rennie c A. de Silva b J. Silva 53
• Grant Flower b Muralitheran 04
• Murray Goodwin lbw J. Silva 02
• Andrew Flower lbw Vaas 08
• Alistair Campbell c Mahanama b Pushpakumara 07
• Craig Wishart c Mahanama b Muralitheran 03
• Paul Strang c A. de Silva b Muralitheran 35
• Heath Streak b Muralitheran 05
• Andrew Whittal not out 06
• Bryan Strang b Muralitheran 02
• Adam Huckle lbw J. Silva 00

• Extras (b6, lb2, nb7) 15

Total 140 all out

Fall- 1/29, 2/36, 3/46, 4/72, 5/75, 6/119, 7/127, 8/134, 9/136