Murali sets record as Sri Lanka taste victory

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from Galle

Legendary off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan marked his farewell Test by claiming his 800th wicket as Sri Lanka defeated India by ten wickets in the opening test match which concluded at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

India were dismissed for 338 runs in their second innings shortly after lunch leaving the home side a target of 95 runs. Sri Lanka romped home quite convincingly with dashing opener Tillekeratne Dilshan smashing an unbeaten 68 from just 47 deliveries with one six and half a dozen boundaries.

Even then it was a long wait for the champion off spinner who eventually reached his milestone by removing India’s last man Pragyan Ojah at approximately 1.55 p.m. It looked as if Muralitharan would wrap up the Indian second innings much earlier after he had sent back Harbhajan Singh in the second over of the day.

That was Muralitharan’s 799th victim and India had slumped to 197 for 7. However Mithun playing in his maiden test match joined the more experienced Laxman and the pair held on determinedly to add 49 runs for the eighth wicket.

In fact Mithun occupied the crease for exactly one hour and struck five boundaries to frustrate the fielding side. He was undone by speed star Lasith Malinga who continued from where he left on the previous day with another hostile spell of bowling.

Malinga returning to the Test scene after more than two years bowled his heart out and returned career best figures of five wickets for 48 from 16 overs. In fact Malinga exposed the Indian tail very early in the innings by dismissing the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his first over of the day.

Even then there was plenty of doubt whether Muralitharan would be able to claim his 800th wicket with the Indian tail enders putting up a stubborn resistance during the latter stages. There was more concern when Angelo Mathews ran out VVS Laxman for a well composed 69 to mark India’s ninth wicket at 314.

The Indian middle order batsman put up a solid defence during his three hour stay at the crease, struck five boundaries and also put on 68 runs for the ninth wicket along with Ishant Sharma.

The pressure was now more on Muralitharan to capture the last Indian wicket and finish off things on a high note. The veteran off spinner also spent some tense moments on the field with the Indian last pair of Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojah defying the Sri Lankan bowlers for nearly one hour.

Muralitharan was so frustrated that he switched bowling ends on more than a couple of occasions and skipper Kumar Sangakkara decided to take the new ball with India on 253 for 8.

The long wait was fully worth as Muralitharan finally had success in the fourth delivery of his 44th over. The dismissal also had a great amount of significance because it marked another record-breaking combination with Mahela Jayawardena. The pair of Muralitharan and Jayawardena has the record for the most number of bowler-fielder combination dismissals in test history.

 Murali conquered all

He came, he captivated and he conquered. That in essence symbolizes the success story of Muttiah Muralitharan who became the first player to touch the magical 800 wicket mark in test cricket.

The veteran off spinner playing in his 133rd and farewell test match performed this unique feat by capturing eight wickets in the opening test match against India which concluded at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

Following is the manner in which he captured the two wickets on the final day of the test match.

Over number 63.6: Muralitharan to Harbhajan Singh. The doosra lands angling into middle and off stump from wide of the crease. The batsman attempts to paddle sweep but misses the ball. The ball straightens and hits in front of off stump. Muralithan appeals and the umpire Darrel Harper agrees. This is wicket number 799 for Muralitharan.

Over number 115.4: Muralitharan to Ojah. The ball is tossed up outside the off stump and the four men around the bat wait in anticipation. The batsman lungs forward edges it and Mahela Jayawardena takes the catch at first slip while falling to his left. This is wicket number 800 and Muralitharan is carried off the ground by his teammates.