South Africa dismissed for 169 in Colombo

COLOMBO, July 27 (Reuters) Sri Lanka bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan ripped through South Africa's batting order with four wickets apiece to bowl out the tourists for 169 on the first day of the opening test today.

Bowling full and straight on a pitch offering some early seam movement, Fernando dismissed openers Andrew Hall (17) and Herschelle Gibbs (19) before lunch and then helped clean up the tail in the afternoon to finish with 4-49.

Muralitharan, bowling with his left-hand heavily strapped after splitting webbing around his thumb, made deep inroads into the middle order and took the final wicket for figures of 4-41.

South Africa, who chose to bat first on a muggy morning at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, recorded their lowest ever score against the hosts as they lost eight wickets during a calamitous afternoon session.

For the tourists, middle order batsman AB de Villiers was the only player to offer any resistance with an aggressive 65 from 72 balls, that included eight boundaries before being the last man out as he tried to thrash some quick late runs.

FOUR MAIDENS South Africa's troubles began early as Hall dragged a full-length delivery onto his stumps and Gibbs was defeated by a ball that nipped back off the pitch to clip his off stump.

The tourists had lost their momentum and Muralitharan took full advantage by starting his spell with four consecutive maidens.

However, left-hander Jacques Rudolph, called up after injuries to skipper Graeme Smith (ankle) and Jacques Kallis (elbow), increased the tempo towards the end of the morning session, hitting five boundaries.

Immediately after the interval, Farveez Maharoof grabbed a brace of wickets when Rudolph (29) and stand-in captain Ashwell Prince (one) edged to Prasanna Jayawardene behind the stumps.

Hashim Amla added 32 with de Villiers before he was deceived by Muralitharan's doosra and stumped for 19.

The 33-year-old off spinner then quickly claimed the scalps of Mark Boucher (four) and Nicky Boje (five) before Fernando was recalled into the attack to dismiss tail-enders Andrew Nel and Dale Steyn.

The second test of the two-match series will be played at the P. Sara Oval, also in Colombo, from August 4.

REUTERS DH HS1604