Sri Lanka (541 for 9 dec) beat Bangladesh (161 and 184) by an innings and 196 runs
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Muttiah Muralitharan added another feather to his abundantly plumed cap when he equalled Richard Hadlee's world record of 36 five-wicket hauls in a landmark Sri Lankan win in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Muralitharan finished with 5 for 59 as Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 196 runs for their biggest victory in 126 Tests - their previous best being by an innings and 166 runs against Zimbabwe in December 2001.

Bangladesh were shot out for 184 after conceding a lead of 380 on the third day at the Saravanamuttu Stadium to suffer their 11th defeat - the eighth by an innings - in 12 matches since gaining Test status in 2000. The other match was a rain-affected draw.

This was Sri Lanka's ninth successive Test win at home since September 2001, including 3-0 sweeps over West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Muralitharan never allowed the inexperienced Bangladeshi batsmen to settle down during his 25 incisive overs. He reduced the match to a no-contest in the morning session, grabbing three quick wickets to have Bangladesh tottering at 124 for 5 at lunch.

He was brilliantly supported by the close fielders, with Kumar Sangakkara taking four catches at silly-point. Opener Al-Sahariar Rokon was the lone batsman to defy Murali in yet another feeble Bangladeshi batting performance, top-scoring with 67 for his third Test half-century in 10 matches.

Sahariar put on 77 for the third wicket with Habibul Bashar, who had reached 34 before Muralitharan scalped him, going through his defences with one that turned in sharply after pitching outside off.

He then had Akram Khan and Aminul Islam caught by Sangakkara at silly point off consecutive deliveries, which effectively put an end to Bangladeshi resistance.

Muralitharan, the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the world with 430 scalps to his name now, took 10 Tests fewer than Hadlee to bag those 36 five-wicket. Hadlee got there in 86 Tests for New Zealand, Murali took just 76.

Muralitharan finished with 10 for 98, for his 11th haul of 10 or more wickets in a Test, improving upon his own world record. He is now behind Courtney Walsh (519), Shane Warne (450), Kapil Dev (434) and Hadlee (431) on the alltime wicket-takers' list.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd