Muralitharan took his 14th 10-wicket match haul

Muttiah Muralitharan took eight wickets to hand West Indies a 240-run second Test defeat and series whitewash.

Set an unlikely target of 378 on day four, the tourists were bowled out for 137, Muralitharan taking 8-46 and his 14th 10-wicket match haul.

He dismissed the last five, including top-scorer Narsingh Deonarine, in the space of eight overs.

The hosts declared their second innings on 375-7 with Kumar Sangakkara (157) and Rangana Herath (15) at the crease.

The match was far from predictable. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 150 in their first innings, before they restricted the West Indies to just 148, thanks to 6-22 from paceman Chaminda Vaas.

Sangakkara then produced an unbeaten 157 in Sri Lanka's second innings, as the home side posted West Indies a stiff target of 378 to win, having added 35 more runs to their overnight total.

I have no problem with my shoulder now but it will take me time to get back to my best Muttiah Muralitharan More reaction

Sri Lanka, who were without the injured Vaas on Monday, made a sensational start when Lasith Malinga trapped Xavier Marshall lbw with the West Indies score on two.

Muralitharan took centre stage after lunch, picking up the wickets of Runako Morton, opener Ryan Ramdass and Sylvester Joseph for a duck, in quick succession.

West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul then fell for 24 when he was caught pad-bat by Mahela Jayawardene off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Deonarine and Denesh Ramdin provided a little more resistance, but they soon became Muralitharan's fourth and fifth victims.

The 31-year-old spin king skittled over the tail to take his Test wickets 549 from 93 matches.

He is second only to Australia's Shane Warne, who took his tally to 589 from 124 games after the first Test against England.

Despite his efforts though, Muralitharan lost out on the man of the match award to Sangakkara, while Vaas was given the man of the series accolade.

Meanwhile, New Zealand umpire Tony Hill banned West Indian fast bowler Tino Best for the rest of the innings for bowling two beamers, earlier in the day.

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 on Monday.