Murali scalps four to equal Warne’s record

Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan equaled the world record for most career Test wickets held by retired Australia legspinner Shane Warne and his four dismissals led a fightback Sunday in the first Test against England. Rain stopped play shortly before tea and day two was subsequently called off by the umpires with England at 186 for six wickets, having been a healthy 145-3 at lunch, replying to the hosts’ first innings of 188. Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 14 and Ryan Sidebottom on one at close.

After lunch Muralitharan broke a flourishing partnership of 38 between Pietersen and Collingwood when he trapped Pietersen lbw for 31 runs. Later he had Ravi Bopara caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off a legside edge to equal Warne’s record tally of 708 wickets.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka (1st Innings): 188

England (1st Innings): A Cook lbw Vaas 0, M Vaughan c Silva b Murali 37, I Bell c Silva b Murali 83, K Pietersen lbw Murali 31, P Collingwood batting 14, R Bopara c P.Jayawardene b Murali 8, M Prior c Mubarak b Fernando 0, R Sidebottom batting 1; Extras: (5b, 7nb) 12;

Total: (for 6 wkts, 63 overs) 186

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-107, 3-132, 4-170, 5-182, 6-185

Bowling: Vaas 15-3-60-1, Malinga 11-1-54-0, Muralitharan 23-11-30-4, Jayasuriya 2-0-9-0, Fernando 12-1-28-1