da gbg bet： Sri Lanka completed their third consecutive Test series win on Monday whenthey crushed a poor Zimbabwean side by an innings and 94 runs at AsgiriyaInternational Stadium in Kandy
Charlie Austin07-Jan-2002Sri Lanka completed their third consecutive Test series win on Monday whenthey crushed a poor Zimbabwean side by an innings and 94 runs at AsgiriyaInternational Stadium in Kandy.It was a predictable outcome with the standard of Zimbabwe’s cricket havingplummeted to such depressingly low levels. The visitors could not competewith a rejuvenated Sri Lankan side in tailor-made conditions for MuttiahMuralitharan.So, although the hosts deserve credit for having now one seven Tests in arow, setting new standards for the subcontinent, it was achieved against theweakest Test nations – Bangladesh, India, West Indies. Thus, it is ofdubious relevance to a team whose cricket board aspires to a place in thetop three.In the coming year sterner tests lie ahead, with tours to England in earlysummer, South Africa and Australia. Only then can the true quality of SanathJayasuriya’s side be accurately gauged.Zimbabwean captain, Stuart Carlisle, was impressed with Sri Lanka but wasnot convinced that they can yet compete with the big boys abroad: “They area really good unit and have a balanced young side. But it’s not easy toplace them because all seven wins have been at home, where they areextremely hard to beat – all teams struggle here.”He added: “The big test will be when they go overseas. In England andAustralia where the ball moves around a bit off the seam I think they couldbe in a bit of trouble.”Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore’s pleasure at winning was also brushed withrealism: “Life is good at the moment but tougher examinations lie ahead andour feet are firmly on the ground.””Nevertheless, it’s reassuring that we are putting some consistentperformances together. In the past we had the ability to be as good asanyone but on certain days we would throw it away and lose the Test match.”Zimbabwe threatened a brave fightback in the morning when Gavin Rennie (68)played boldly, hitting man of the match Muttiah Muralitharan out of theattack and cruising to his seventh Test fifty.But on the brink of the first drinks break fast bowler Charitha Fernando,who fully justified his controversial inclusion against the wishes of theselectors with a four-wicket haul, found some reverse swing and trapped AndyFlower lbw for 11, ending a 58 run partnership for the fourth wicket (109for four).Fernando followed up with the wicket of the Rennie with a yorker-lengthdelivery that swung back painfully onto the left-hander’s boot.Muralitharan, recalled into the attack from the other end, quickly disposedof Craig Wishart (3) who top-edged a sweep and was caught at short fine legto leave Zimbabwe on 149 for six at lunch.Again, after the interval, Zimbabwe briefly resisted before thereintroduction of Fernando precipitated the final collapse during which thelast four wickets fell for 15 runs.Grant Flower (21) gloved a catch behind as he tried to take evasive action,Douglas Marillier (9) was forced onto the back foot and trapped lbw byMuralitharan, Travis Friend was clean bowled for a duck and Henry Olonga (1)holed out at square leg.Muralitharan was the deserved man of the match after picking up 13 for 115in the game, which takes him to 395 Test victims in just 71 games with theprospect of him becoming the seventh man to the 400 mark in the final Teststarting Saturday.Clearly still hampered with his injured finger, he wore a protective casingwhilst fielding, but is expected to play in Galle. Whatmore certainlythought so: “Knowing him, he would still play if he only had one leg.”Other changes to the Sri Lankan side are possible, to give exposure to thereserves, but skipper Jayasuriya appeared reluctant to make wholesalechanges.”We need back-up players but we can’t make a big change because there isonly one Test at home and it is important to give our regular players asmuch confidence as possible before we travel overseas,” he said.