Muralitharan heading for a perfect 10

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was on course to take all ten wickets in a Test innings after removing the first seven Zimbabwe batsmen in the second Test on Friday.

At tea, Muralitharan had figures of seven for 26 off 22 overs with Zimbabwe on 159 for seven after choosing to bat first on a flat, batting pitch on day one.

Only Grant Flower showed the discipline and patience to tackle Muralitharan, batting for 140 minutes for 48 not out which included six fours.

Muralitharan, who picked up four wickets before lunch, added a further three during the afternoon session to take his personal career tally to 389 wickets from 71 Tests.

He surpassed former England all-rounder Ian Botham's haul of 383 wickets when he claimed his fourth wicket and is now the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the world.

Muralitharan struck in the ninth over after lunch by having skipper Stuart Carlisle trapped lbw on the back foot for 20 making Zimbabwe 83 for five.

He came off after his first spell which brought him figures of five for 25 off 17 overs.

While he was out of the attack Zimbabwe managed to raise a stand of 54 in 73 minutes between Flower and Craig Wishart.

But once he was reintroduced into the attack, Muralitharan trapped Wishart lbw for 26 with his third delivery, Zimbabwe losing the wicket at 137.

He followed it up by bowling Heath Streak for one when he did not offer a shot to a ball that hit his back pad and removed his off bail.

Douglas Marillier was not out on two at the interval.

Only two bowlers have previously taken ten wickets in an innings -- Jim Laker of England (10/53) and India's Anil Kumble (10/74).

Mail Cricket Editor