© AFP

Muttiah Muralitharan is a star. And, in his hometown of Kandy, he is a folk hero. One can call him the King of Kandy for he has carried Sri Lanka to a higher level in world cricket. The stories of how his deliveries strike like a King cobra are already legendary. For once Muralitharan decided to have big fun against the Indian bowlers. Batting has never been his forte or something he works hard to improve. There was a festive air in the ground as Muralitharan unleashed the most outrageous of unorthodox strokeplay to tear the bowling apart. He made 67 valuable runs off 65 balls, striking three sixes and five boundaries. Muralitharan was in full cry and ruled Asgiriya Stadium till he holed out a catch to Ramesh off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh. Sri Lanka made 221 all out off 66.3 overs, thanks largely to the last wicket stand of 64 runs between Muralitharan and Ruchira Perera.