‘Murali’ (8/46) bowls Sri Lanka to victory

Set an improbable 378 runs to win on a crumbling fourth-day pitch, the West Indies were bundled out for 137 as their batsmen struggled against offspinner Muralitharan, who returned eight for 46 in 16.2 overs. It was the 46th time Muralitharan has collected five wickets or more in a Test innings.

Earlier Kumar Sangakkara scored an unbeaten 157 — his eighth Test hundred — off 284 balls to boost Sri Lanka’s second innings to 375 for seven, the hosts adding 35 runs to their overnight total before declaring the innings closed.

In a seesawing match, Sri Lanka had been sent into bat on the opening day and was skittled for 150 in its first innings before paceman Chaminda Vaas led a fightback by taking six for 22 to restrict the West Indies to 148 in reply.

Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu praised the performance of the young West Indies side that was missing several senior players, including leading batsman Brian Lara, due to a contract dispute.

"They kept us guessing and gave us a bit of thinking to do in the dressing room, which we enjoyed," Atapattu told reporters.

"At the end of the day it was more joyful to overcome them."

Muralitharan, who has 549 Test wickets and is behind only Australian legspinner Shane Warne (589) on the list of leading all-time Test wicket takers, said experience helped against the young batsmen.

"I just kept the ball in the right places and they collapsed because they are inexperienced," said Muralitharan, adding that the big wicket haul helped him in his personal race with Warne to be recognised as the greatest Test bowler of all.

"There is a long way to go and Shane is bowling really well ... whoever is going to play longer might keep the record," Muralitharan said. Lasith Malinga opened the bowling for Sri Lanka yesterday in the absence of Vaas, who was struggling with a hamstring injury, and struck immediately, trapping Xavier Marshall (1) LBW with the total at two.

Muralitharan began his spell shortly after lunch and soon trapped Runako Morton (9) LBW to make the total 38 for two.

He struck successive blows with the total at 49, dismissing opener Ryan Ramdass (23) and Sylvester Joseph (0) caught by Mahela Jayawardene at silly mid-off.

West Indies’ skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul failed to make any impression as he was caught pad-bat by Jayawardene off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Narsingh Deonarine top-scored for the West Indies with 29 runs.

Earlier in the rain-interrupted fourth day, New Zealand umpire Tony Hill banned West Indian fast bowler Tino Best for the rest of the innings for bowling two beamers.

Hill had warned Best for bowling a full delivery over waist height against Sangakkara on Sunday and the bowler was taken out of the attack when he repeated it against Herath in his second over of the day.