GALLE: Hosts Sri Lanka were well-placed to win the first Test against India after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan wreaked havoc in his final match on Wednesday.
The world`s leading wicket-taker grabbed 5-63 in the first innings as India were forced to follow on after being shot out for 276 on the fourth day in reply to Sri Lanka`s 520-8 declared.
Sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga then claimed three wickets to leave the tourists` second innings tottering at 181-5 at stumps, still 63 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.
India, the top-ranked Test side, lost 12 wickets during the day on a wicket that took only slow turn at the Galle International Stadium.
Muralitharan, who dismissed Yuvraj Singh with the last ball of the day, will return for his final day in Test cricket on Thursday two short of the 800-wicket mark as Sri Lanka press for the lead in the three-match series.
Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar hit a defiant 84, sharing a third-wicket partnership of 119 with Rahul Dravid (44) after India were reduced to 42-2.
But Malinga, gaining appreciable reverse swing in the final hour, sent back the veteran pair in the space of six deliveries to leave the hosts on top.
Malinga had earlier removed Gautam Gambhir with the third delivery of the innings after dismissing the left-handed opener with the second ball in the first innings.
Indian vice-captain Virender Sehwag, who scored 109 in the first innings and a breezy 31 off 30 balls in the second, refused to concede defeat yet.
\"We hope the remaining batsmen will fight because the rain may come anytime and the match could get washed out and end in a draw,\" he said.
\"But I must say Murali is the most difficult bowler I have ever faced. Because you never know which side the ball is going to turn. You can`t plan against him.\"
Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss also would not take victory for granted.
\"Nothing is easy with this Indian team,\" the Australian said. \"We`ve had a good day and we are very happy with the position we are in.
\"But there is still some hard work to be done. Hopefully the weather will be as good as it was today.\"
The entire second day`s play had been washed out and 22 overs were lost on the first day due to heavy rain, but Wednesday`s play was held under clear blue skies.
Bayliss hoped Muralitharan would take the two wickets to reach the 800-mark.
\"If you ask him, he would want to get all five wickets,\" the coach said. \"We would all love him to get at least two of those five. But it`s going to be some tough work against this Indian team.\"
It was the 67th time Muralitharan, 38, had claimed five wickets or more in a Test innings, way ahead of second-placed Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who managed the feat on 37 occasions.
The off-spinner followed up the dismissal of Tendulkar for eight on Tuesday with four more scalps in the first innings.
Muralitharan broke a 74-run stand for the sixth wicket between Yuvraj and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) by bowling the Indian captain with a ball that turned in sharply.
Muralitharan struck again in his next over, forcing Yuvraj (52) to edge a catch to first slip and returned after lunch to remove tailenders Pragyan Ojha and Abhimanyu Mithun.
BDST: 1957 HRS, JULY 21, 2010
