Close Sri Lanka (505) beat Zimbabwe (236 and 175) by an innings and 94 runs
scorecard

Charitha Buddika and Muttiah Muralitharan shared eight wickets as Sri Lanka took a little over three hours on the fourth day to complete their second-successive innings victory over Zimbabwe, at Kandy. It was Sri Lanka's seventh straight win and their third-consecutive series victory.

As had been the case in the first Test, the Zimbabwe batting was simply too weak to offer anything but token resistance. But for once Muralitharan did not dominate proceedings. It didn't matter: Zimbabwe were so feeble that he could have sat out the day and the result would have been no different.

Any lingering hopes that Zimbabwe had of saving face, rested, inevitably, on Andy Flower. When he was trapped leg-before by Fernando for 11 after an hour (109 for 4) and then Gavin Rennie's three-hour vigil was ended in a similar fashion for 66, also by Fernando (134 for 5), the game was as good as over.

Grant Flower and Heath Streak doggedly delayed the inevitable for almost an hour before Fernando's second spell brought the curtain down. Flower was surprised by some extra bounce and gloved to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara for 21 (160 for 7) and then Doug Marillier was lbw playing back to Muralitharan for 9 (173 for 8).

Fernando clean bowled Travis Friend with a full-length inswinger for 0 (174 for 9) and, fittingly, Muralitharan completed the rout by having Henry Olonga caught at square leg for 1. It was his 13th wicket of the match and his 21st of the series; Zimbabwe's entire attack have managed just 15 in the two Tests.

Unless there is a dramatic improvement in Zimbabwe's batting, Murali should take the five wickets he needs to reach 400 during the third Test at Galle.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd