Fitting farewell for Murali
Chris DHAMBARAGE
Sri Lanka gave World record holder Muttiah Muralitharan a fitting
farewell in his final One Day International at home by winning the ICC
2011 Cricket World Cup semifinal clash against New Zealand at the R.
Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
The 39 year old champion off spinner playing his last One Day
International in front of his home crowd captured two wickets for 42
from his ten over spell that helped his team bowl out the Kiwis for 217
runs in 48.5 overs.
Muralitharan playing in his 39th World Cup match and 348th One Day
International had the rare honour of capturing a wicket with his final
delivery in his tenth and last over.
He trapped New Zealand’s top scorer Scott Styris leg before wicket
for 57 runs in the 46th over with the total at 213 runs. This was
something similar to which he performed during his farewell Test match
against India where he picked up his 800th wicket with the last ball of
the match at the Galle International Stadium last year.
Muralitharan with his two wickets against New Zealand brought his
overall tally to 68 wickets which has put him just four scalps away from
overtaking the record haul of 71 wickets held by former Australian fast
bowler Glen McGrath.
In the current World Cup Muralitharan has so far captured a total of
15 wickets from eight outings at an average of 16.80 and with an economy
rate of 4.00. He will now have the opportunity of playing his final One
Day International at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai either against India
or Pakistan on April 2.
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