Lankans crash land

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Dec 9, 2006 (AFP) -New Zealand stumbled to a controversial five-wicket win over Sri Lanka here Saturday in a low-scoring first cricket Test, which lasted less than three days.

Sangakkara Sri Lanka’s lone worrier

The home side was set a target of just 119 to win after Sri Lanka's second innings ended in bizarre fashion for 170. But New Zealand then lost five wickets as they struggled to deal with champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who took three of New Zealand's second innings wickets for a match haul of seven for 99. However, the Test will be remembered for the way the spinner was dismissed to end Sri Lanka's second innings.

The tailender was run out when he completed a single to give Kumar Sangakkara his century and immediately turned and ran back up the wicket to congratulate the mainstay of the Sri Lankan innings.

But Muralitharan did not realise the ball was still in play, allowing wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum the easiest of dismissals, while raising questions about the sportsmanship of the New Zealanders.

The Sri Lankans could claim the run out was not within the spirit of the game. But it was within the law, and in his excitement Muralitharan did not see square leg umpire Brian Jerling appear to motion that “over” had not been called.

It was the third run out in an innings where Sri Lanka needed to build a big score with plenty of time available at the crease, after being placed on the back foot by a bizarre earlier decision when Mahela Jayawardene won the toss.

The Sri Lankan captain chose to bat on what was clearly a seamer's wicket and when they lost their first wicket in the third over it was evident he had made the wrong call. Sri Lanka were all out for 154 in their first innings, and managed a slightly better 170 in the second, which is the second lowest score in Test cricket history where one batsman has scored a century.

New Zealand were hoping for an earlier finish, but Sangakkara and bottom order batsmen Lasith Malinga and Muralitharan frustrated the New Zealand bowlers with their stubborn resistance.