The Kiwis, set an improbable target of 413 runs, collapsed to 210 all out in their second innings before tea on the fifth and final day at the Galle International Stadium.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed 3-88 to take his world record tally to 777 wickets, while left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and spinner Ajantha Mendis picked up two scalps each.

The tourists, who had 13 of their 15 players affected by a stomach bug and viral fever, had been left hoping the weather might do them a favour – only for clear skies to break over the coastal town for the first time since the Test began.

Skipper Daniel Vettori battled bravely for two-and-a-half hours to make 67, his 20th Test fifty, sparking a brief resistance by the lower order after the Kiwis were reduced to 86/5.

Jesse Ryder, one of the players worst affected by the virus, defended for almost an hour to add 48 for the sixth wicket with his captain before he was caught behind off Muralitharan for 22 soon after lunch.

Jeetan Patel hit 22 and Brendon McCullum, who was confined to bed on Friday due to fever, made 29 before he was last man to be dismissed, a run-out victim of a direct throw from Muralitharan.

Wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, returning to the side after missing the previous series against Pakistan with a knee injury, chipped in with three catches and a stumping.

New Zealand added seven runs to their overnight score of 30/1 when Thushara bowled Martin Guptill with a superb ball that moved after pitching and clipped the off-stump. The batsman made 18.

Tim McIntosh, top-scorer in the first innings with 69 but who could not open on Friday evening due to fever, batted for 14 minutes without scoring when he edged a Thushara outswinger.

Thilan Samaraweera picked up a low catch at third slip which was referred to the third umpire before the umpires gave the batsman out.

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara surprisingly handed the ball to part-time spinner Mahela Jayawardene and the former captain struck with his second delivery to claim only his sixth wicket in 106 Tests.

Ross Taylor, who looked solid making 16, played at a ball down the leg-side and nudged a catch to the wicket-keeper to reduce New Zealand to 45/4 within the first hour.

Jacob Oram and Vettori put on 41 for the fifth wicket, but Mendis ended the defiant stand by having Oram leg-before for 21.

The second and final Test will be played at the Sinhalese sports club in Colombo from Wednesday.

New Zealand will also play two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka and a limited-overs tri-series with India as the third team.

The duo, who came together with the Black Caps still needing 30 runs to avoid the follow-on in the rain-hit Test, put on a defiant stand of 36 after tea on the third day.

Ryder was dismissed for 42, but skipper Vettori returned unbeaten on 33 as New Zealand ended the day at 281/8, still 171 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 452.

Tailender Iain O’Brien was the other batsman at the crease on three.

Sri Lanka have two days, weather permitting, to force a win at the Galle International Stadium on a wearing wicket that has already started to assist the spinners.

Just 76 overs were bowled during the day after heavy rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and bad light ended play 20 minutes early.

The Black Caps, led by a gutsy 69 from left-handed opener Tim McIntosh, were sitting pretty at 180-3 when three wickets fell for 15 runs in the post-lunch session.

The collapse was triggered by two wickets from left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara, who had Ross Taylor caught behind for 35 and bowled Brendon McCullum for one off the inside edge.

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had two lucky breaks when he earned a leg-before verdict against the sturdy McIntosh and had Jacob Oram caught off the pad at short-leg for 12.

Television replays showed Australian umpire Daryl Harper erred in both decisions.

The middle order collapse undid the good work of McIntosh, who had batted through the rain-affected morning session after resuming at his overnight score of 36.

The left-hander survived two blows on his helmet and shoulder by rising deliveries from Thushara, but hung on for six hours to anchor New Zealand’s reply.

The 29-year-old Auckland batsman, who has a century to his credit in five previous Tests but had never played an international match outside New Zealand, hit six boundaries and a six.

Nightwatchman Jeetan Patel helped McIntosh put on 49 for the third wicket, himself contributing 26, before he was leg-before to Muralitharan 20 minutes before lunch.

Taylor added 51 runs for the fourth wicket when he edged a well-pitched delivery from Thushara to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Muralitharan, the most successful Test bowler in history, took his record tally to 773 with the wickets of McIntosh and Oram.

New Zealand play two Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and a limited-overs tri-series also featuring India during the five-week tour.

Bangladesh’s only previous victory came at home to Zimbabwe in 2005 and although this one was achieved against a West Indies side without any of their leading players, their first win overseas was a cause for celebration.

“It means a lot to us, we are very happy,” said opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, whose second-innings century laid the foundations for victory.

The Tigers’ second win came in their 60th Test since becoming a full Test-playing nation nine years ago.

West Indies fielded seven debutants in their hastily-assembled squad following the decision by the 13 selected players not to take part as a protest over contractual and payment issues.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has vowed to stick with the makeshift squad but the defeat will increase pressure for a settlement before the second Test starts in Grenada on Friday.

“You’ll have to ask the chairman about that one,” said Floyd Reifer, the 36-year-old stand-in skipper who was playing in his first Test in 10 years.

“It is disappointing to lose but I think the guys, brought here the night before a Test, fought well,” said Reifer.

West Indies started the day well, removing the last five Bangladesh batsmen for just 24 runs to set up a realistic target of 277 runs for victory.

But the Caribbean side were in trouble before lunch, losing both opening batsmen.

Dale Richards was dismissed in amateurish fashion, hit on the pads and waiting for an lbw appeal to be answered when he strolled out of his crease and was run out.

Omar Phillips, who made a debut century in his first innings, was trapped lbw by the left-arm spin of Shakib Al Hasan to leave West Indies at 33 for two.

Then came the twin spin attack of Mahmudullah and slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan and West Indies simply could not cope with the turn.

Mahmudullah claimed the wickets of Travis Dowlin, Reifer, wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton and tailender Kemar Roach.

Al Hasan also caused problems and picked up the vital wicket of Darren Sammy when the all-rounder wildly slashed the ball to Shahadat Hossain at point.

Dave Bernard, the only player to have featured in the West Indies side in the recent ODI series against India, battled bravely for his second half-century of the match but he was left stranded on 52 when Al Hasan picked up his third wicket by trapping Tino Best lbw to clinch victory.

At the interval, Mushfiqur Rahim was not out on 23 and Mashrafe Mortaza was not out on zero, after rain delayed the restart after lunch by almost two hours on the second day at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

The Tigers sunk a little deeper into trouble when Mahmudullah was caught at gully off Kemar Roach for nine in the final over before the break.

For West Indies, whose side has been weakened by a players’ strike over a pay difference with the West Indies Cricket Board, Roach has taken two wickets for 37 runs from 17 overs, Dave Bernard has captured two for 26 from nine overs, and Tino Best has two for 30 from 12 overs.

Before lunch, Bangladesh reached 121 for six, after they had continued from their overnight total of 42 without loss.

They suffered an early setback, when Tamim Iqbal was caught at first slip off Best for 14 in the first full over of the day.

There was another bump in the road, when Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva dubiously adjudged Imrul Kayes lbw to Darren Sammy for 33 in the third over.

Video replays suggested that left-hander Kayes may have been a touch unfortunate having been struck just outside the line of off-stump with a delivery going across him.

Bangladesh were then 45 for two, and Raqibul Hasan joined Junaid Siddique. They spent close to an hour stemming the fall of wickets, and put on 34 for the third wicket.

But the tourists then lost three wickets for 21 runs in the space of 55 balls.

Raqibul was caught at gully for 14 slicing a drive to give Bernard his first Test wicket, Siddique was Bernard’s second scalp when he was caught at mid-wicket for 27 miscuing a hook at a short, rising ball, and Mohammad Ashraful was caught behind for six edging a loose drive off Best to leave Bangladesh 100 for five.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim then spent the next half-hour defying the West Indies attack before more misfortune hit the Tigers.

Shakib was dubiously adjudged caught at gully to give Roach his first Test wicket, but video replays showed that New Zealand
umpire Tony Hill’s decision was questionable, since the ball came off the forearm guard of the batsman.

Bangladesh play two Tests, three one-day internationals, and a Twenty20 international on their five-week tour of the Caribbean.

Rain wiped out the entire morning session before new Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and chose to bat first under overcast skies.

Play eventually got under way 20 minutes after lunch but showers returned after an hour to stall the visitors’ progress.

Imrul was unbeaten on 21 while fellow left-hander Tamim was 14 not out.

Bangladesh gave debuts to fast bowler Rubel Hossain and all-rounder Mahmudullah, both of whom appeared in the Twenty20 World Cup in England.

Four bowlers were used by new West Indies captain Floyd Reifer, with Tino Best, the most experienced player in the side, sharing the new ball with Kemar Roach, one of seven players making their West Indies debut.

Darren Sammy and Dave Bernard, two of only four West Indians with previous Test experience, also had brief spells without success.

Reifer, who played the last of his four Tests in January 1999, said he was proud to be captain in the absence of the 13 leading players boycotting the Bangladesh tour in a contract dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board.

“For me personally, I am honored to captain the West Indies team,” he said. “A lot of great people have captained West Indies.”

Reifer, two weeks short of his 37th birthday, was also positive about his young charges.

“The guys that are here, we are coming out to represent the West Indies. It’s always an honor. I have a young bunch of guys who are eager and willing to play for the people of the Caribbean.”

Reifer said he would not comment on the dispute between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association.

“I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “We are just here to play cricket and go out there and do our best.”

A 15-man squad, captained by 36-year-old Floyd Reifer, whose last of four Test appearances was over 10 years ago, features 16-year-old Barbadian batsman Kraigg Brathwaite who, if he plays would become the youngest West Indian Test player.

None of the original 13 players selected for the match, prior to the West Indies Players Association announcing their withdrawal from the Bangladesh series, have been named.

Darren Sammy, selected as vice-captain, is the only player in the squad to have been a regular member of the West Indies set up in the past year.

West Indies Cricket Board president Julian Hunte declined on Wednesday to comment on the recruitment of players but said there had been “a lot of intimidation of players”.

The WICB chief declined to comment on who had carried out the intimidation or give any details about which players had been approached.

Tino Best, the 27-year-old Barbados pace bowler, who last featured in a Test match in 2005, was in the squad along with fellow Bajan, opening batsman Dale Richards who has narrowly missed out on Test appearances.

But the bulk of players are debutants with only regional cricket experience including Brathwaite who was flown in from a regional under-19 tournament in Jamaica.

Jamaican fast bowler Daren Powell, not included in the selected 13, said on Wednesday he had been approached by the board to play but had turned down the chance.

“I was contacted by the West Indies board but I told them I was not available this time,” Powell said.

The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) announced on Tuesday the Test squad, captained by Chris Gayle, had withdrawn from the series with immediate effect.

The WIPA said they were owed payments for recent games and that the players have performed in the last four series without contracts.

“Heading home. Sorry to all the cricket fans. This is the last thing we want to happen to the game. Need respect and stop taking us for granted,” Gayle said.

The WICB said the boycott was “extremely ill advised and premature” and said it considered negotiations with the WIPA were ongoing.

West Indies squad:

Floyd Reifer (captain), Darren Sammy, Ryan Austin, Tino Best, David Bernard, Kraigg Brathwaite, Andre Creary, Travis Dowlin, Nikita Miller, Kevin McClean, Nelon Pascal, Omar Phillips, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Chadwick Walton.

The Venue

We have no test match history to guide us as far as Sophia Gardens is concerned. The ground is home to Glamorgan and is a surprising choice to host an Ashes test match. England captain Andrew Strauss is on record as saying both teams do not know what to expect which all makes for an intriguing opening to the series.

Let’s take a look at the squads:

England Squad: Andrew Strauss, Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ian Bell, Graham Onions.

England resisted the temptation to recall Steve Harmison and Graham Onions retains his place in the squad. With Panesar and Swann, England have the option to play 2 spinners if hey conditions will suit. Of the 13 man squad Ian Bell and one of either Onions or Panesar are most likely to miss out.

Australia Squad: Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

Update: Brett Lee is an injury doubt for Australia and may miss the first test

The Aussies have just completed a warm up game against an England Lions side. The match ended in a draw and Brett Lee looked awesome when taking 6 wickets in the first innings and Marcus North starred with the 191 not out with the bat. Ponting struggled and opener Phillip Hughes looked vulnerable to the short pitched deliveries, more of which will be served up to him in the 1st test. All in all though, the warm up match is about players getting into shape for Wednesday and I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on it.

The key men:

Strauss was 100% correct when he said all XI need to contribute and there can be no over-reliance on a couple of star players. However there are still some “ifs and buts” that stand out more than others.

Philip Hughes – England’s bowlers will be looking to target the Australian opener in his first Ashes series. Hughes can expect plenty of short deliveries and how he handles it will be a big factor.

Andrew Flintoff – there is no doubt that if he is 100% fit and firing after his injury problems, Flintoff will be a major handful for the Australian batsmen. The “if” is the key word.

The Captains: Ponting will be under more pressure than Strauss, his own recent form has been poor and on the back of a dismal ICC T20 showing, pressure will soon mount if Australia find themselves on the back foot early on.

After Cardiff, there will also be tests at Lords, Edgbaston and Headingley before we finish up at the Oval.

Pakistan resumed the fourth day within sight of a convincing win, needing 97 more runs to win with eight wickets in hand and two days to remaining.

But Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (4-15) and seamer Thilan Thushara (2-21) upended the Pakistan innings, striking at regular intervals to hasten a batting collapse.

Herath struck in the second over, trapping first innings centurymaker Mohammad Yousuf (12) lbw for his overnight score. He soon dismissed Sulman Butt (28) caught by Tharanga Paranavitana.

Thushara then had Shoaib Malik (0) caught behind by Tillakaratne Dilshan and trapped Kamran Akmal (6) lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq’s run out for seven left Pakistan on a precarious 85-7, with all their recognized batsmen back in the pavilion.

Herath wrapped up the innings when he had Abdur Rauf caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip to hand his side a famous win to kick start the three-match series, the first between the two countries since the Sri Lankan team’s convoy was attacked by terrorists en route to a match at Lahore, Pakistan in March.

Pakistan was seemingly on top of the match from the start.

Visiting skipper Younis Khan won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in to bat, restricting the hosts to 292. Mohammad Yousuf celebrated his return to Test cricket with 112 runs, his 29th Test hundred that helped Pakistan reach 342 in reply.

Rookie bowlers Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Aamer produced three wickets each to end Sri Lanka’s second innings for 217 runs, giving Pakistan what should have been an achievable target. Aamer returned 3-38 and took a match haul of six wickets while Ajmal recorded 3-34 and took five wickets in the match.

Pakistan were 15-2 in reply at stumps with skipper Younus Khan on seven and nightwatchman Abdur Rauf yet to score after openers Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor had fallen in the first four overs.

Butt was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekera off the second ball of the innings and Manzoor was trapped leg-before by Thilan Thushara to set up a thrilling contest ahead.

Aamer, a 17-year-old left-armer, grabbed three wickets and fellow debutant Rauf picked up two after Younus sent Sri Lanka in to bat on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain.

Younus himself took 2-23 while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal claimed four catches and a stumping as Sri Lanka slipped to 194-6 before the lower order fought back.

Left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana was Sri Lanka’s saviour with 72, adding 75 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30) and 43 for the fourth with Thilan Samaraweera (31).

Sri Lanka’s lone debutant, Angelo Mathews, boosted the tail with a sparkling 42 off 57 balls during a 47-run stand for the seventh wicket with Kulasekera, who made 38.

The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while the squad was en route to resume a Test match.

The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and eight local security men were killed.

The match began less than a fortnight after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in England on June 21.

Aamer, one of Pakistan’s heroes in the triumphant World Twenty20 campaign, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.

The hosts slipped to 21-2 as Aamer removed skipper Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.

Aamer should have had two more wickets but Malik dropped Paranavitana, then on four, and Akmal let off Jayawardene before the batsman had scored a run.

Akmal made amends 90 minutes later when he snapped up Jayawardene off Rauf, but not before the former Sri Lankan captain had partnered Paranavitana in the rescue act.

Rauf had Paranavitana caught by Misbah-ul Haq at first slip midway through the post-lunch session, before Younus dismissed Samaraweera through a catch by the wicket-keeper.

Aamer removed Tillakaratne Dilshan (28) with the first delivery after tea as Malik took a smart catch at gully to end a 34-run stand with Mathews.

Umar Gul, the only specialist bowler in Pakistan’s ranks with previous Test experience, earned his first success soon after and debutant off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed the last two wickets.

The Venue: Galle, Sri Lanka

Galle is widely viewed as one of the most splendid venues in test cricket and the ground has been rebuilt since being badly damaged by the Tsunami.

Pakistan’s only visit to Galle came in 2000 and they won comprehensively by an innings and 163 runs after Pakistan hit 600 in their first innings. Sri Lanka then reeled off a sequence of impressive victories with South Africa, India, England and West Indies all losing by at least 10 wickets in the 18 months or so that followed.

Rcently though, Sri Lanka’s fortunes at Galle have taken a turn for the worse. There were draws against England in 2003 and 2007, and the Proteas in 2004. Also in 2004 Australia beat  them by 197 runs and in the last test match at this venue which came in 2008, India ran out winners by 170 runs.

Let’s take a closer look at the test against India last year for a few pointers. India  won the toss and chose to bat. They made 29 thanks largely to a double century from Sehwag. Sri Lankan spinners Mendia (6) and Murali (2) took 8 of the 10 Indian wickets.

In reply, Sri Lanka were all out for 292 and once again, spin was a potent weapon with Harbhajan taking 6 wickets and Kumble 3. India then set their hosts 307 for victory as they made 269 in their 2nd innings. Mendis (4) and Murali (3) were once again amongst the wickets.

On day 4, Sri Lanka collapsed in their chase and were all out for 136 as Indian ran out comfortable winners. In summary of the 40 wickets to fall, 30 fell to spin bowling.

Sri Lanka squad:

Sangakkara takes charge of a squad which includes T20 star performer Dilshan, the experience of Jayawardene as well as the spin of Murali and Mendis. Chaminda Vaas has been left out whilst Jayasuriya no longer plays test cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva, Suranga Lakmal.

Pakistan squad:

Younis Khan welcomes back Mohammad Yousuf to a squad which has many of the members of the successful ICC T20 campaign. There is no Afridi who has having a break before the ODI’s begin but Saeed Ajmal is there to provide the spin along with Danish Kaneria

Squad: Younis Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal.