Muttiah Muralitharan took four wickets as Sri Lanka humiliated Zimbabwe by an innings for the second Test in succession on Monday to wrap up the series 2-0.

The off spinner bowled almost without a break from one end to take four for 79 from 28.1 overs as Sri Lanka won the second Test in Bulawayo by an innings and 254 runs an hour after lunch on the fourth day.

Zimbabwe, needing 485 to make Sri Lanka bat again, were dismissed for 231, their fate sealed when they lost six wickets for 48 in 14 overs either side of lunch.

The result capped a successful tour for Sri Lanka, who won the one-day series 5-0 and won the first Test by an innings and 240 runs, but those successes were achieved against woefully outclassed opponents.

After Sri Lanka's first innings of 713 for three, the ninth highest total in Test history, the home side had resumed on 44 for two and enjoyed their best session of the series as Brendan Taylor (61) and Dion Ebrahim (42) defended well while taking their chances to score.

But seven overs before lunch Taylor attempted to work a delivery from Muralitharan to the leg side and fell to a looping catch taken at silly mid-off by Mahela Jayawardene.

Taylor showed grit for his maiden Test half-century. He batted for more than three hours, faced 142 balls and hit six fours and a six, and his dismissal ended a third-wicket stand of 85.

In Muralitharan's next over captain Tatenda Taibu attempted a defensive stroke and popped a catch to Dilshan Tillakaratne at silly mid-on to be dismissed for a duck.

Three overs later Sanath Jayasuriya, bowling his left-arm spin, aimed a delivery at Ebrahim's pads and the batsman flicked a catch to Marvan Atapattu at leg slip.

Zimbabwe's collapse resumed in the fifth over after lunch when Alester Maregwede was trapped in front for 28 by left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas.

Vaas struck again three balls later when Mluleki Nkala edged to Tillakaratne Dilshan at third slip to fall for a duck.

Next ball Muralitharan trapped Elton Chigumbura in front for 12.

Number 10 Tinashe Panyangara scored a breezy 40 not out off 45 balls with six fours to nurse Zimbabwe past 200.

Zimbabwe were forced to select a weakened squad for both Test and one-day series after 15 experienced players made themselves unavailable in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union over selection.

They were later sacked after arguing the team was being chosen for political reasons, with white players being sidelined form the starting line-up, rather than on ability.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe (1st innings): 228

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 713-3 declared

Zimbabwe (2nd innings:) (overnight 44-2)
B Taylor c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 61
S Matsikenyere c Jayawardene b Zoysa 14
M Vermeulen c Muralitharan b Zoysa 6
D Ebrahim c Atapattu b Jayasuriya 42
T Taibu c Dilshan b Muralitharan 0
A Maragwede lbw b Vaas 28
E Chigumbura lbw b Muralitharan 12
M Nkala c Dilshan b Vaas 0
T Panyangara not out 40
T Mpariwa c Vaas b Jayasuriya 14
D Hondo c Atapattu b Muralitharan 3

Extras:  (lb-7, w-1, nb-3) 11

Total: (all out, 75.1 overs) 231

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-40, 3-125, 4-127, 5-143, 6-173, 7-173, 8-173, 9-204.

Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 18-6-53-2, Nuwan Zoysa 13-4-27-2, Muttiah Muralitharan 28.1-6-79-4, Farveez Maharoof 6-0-32-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 10-0-33-2.