Murali creates history!
Muttiah Muralitharan celebrated
with teammates on claiming his 800th Test wicket making him the first
ever player in the history of Test cricket to do so. The experienced off
spinner playing in his 133rd and farewell test match before his
retirement reached his pinnacle by capturing eight wickets in the
opening Test match against India which concluded at the Galle
International Stadium.
The Kandy-born cricketer, who used to listen to BBC radio updates on
his favourite game, was even congratulated by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa who made the journey especially to see the spin king in action
on his visit to the Galle Stadium. He captured the two wickets on the
final day of the test match.
The nail-biting 799th wicket came during over number 63.6 with Murali
bowling to Harbhajan Singh. The doosra landed by angling into the middle
and off stump from wide of the crease. The batsman attempted to paddle
the sweep but missed the ball. The ball straightened and was hit in
front of the off stump.
Muralitharan appealled and umpire Darrel Harper agreed. The milestone
achievement was reached during over number 115.4 when Murali bowled to
Ojah. The ball was tossed up outside the off stump and the four men
around the bat waited in anticipation. The batsman lunged forward, edged
it and Mahela Jayawardena took the catch at the first slip, falling to
his left.
This wicket number 800 made Murali the Hero of the Moment and he was
then whisked away by his teammates in jubilation!
-CD
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