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| Wednesday, 17 March 2004 |
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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan joined the select band of bowlers who had taken 500 wickets in Test cricket when he bowled Michael Kasprowicz for a duck in the Australian first innings of the second cricket Test played at the Asgriya Stadium, Kandy yesterday. Muralitharan's reaction to it was one of pure elation. He leapt in the air no sooner he captured the wicket. He was lifted in the air by Tillakaratne Dilshan and was surrounded by his team mates who offered him congratulations all round. Muralitharan was the quickest of the three bowlers to reach the magical mark of 500 taking only 87 Tests. West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh took 129 Tests and Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne played in 108 Tests to achieve the landmark. Muralitharan's accomplishment on his home ground was celebrated around the Asgiriya Stadium by firecrackers while a section of schoolboys held banners congratulating him. The SLC unveiled two massive banners with the words: 'Well done Murali keep going for the world record'. Walsh holds the world record with 519 wickets and Warne lies second with 501. Muraliltharan is third with 500. At the end of the Australian innings a group of schoolboys formed a guard of honour for Muralitharan. His coach at St. Anthony's College, Katugastota, Sunil Fernando hugged and kissed him when he was returning to the pavilion where SLC officials congratulated him. The spectators in the grandstand gave him a standing ovation. Later in the day SLC presented him with a special award in recognition of his achievement and released 500 balloons. |
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