Herath enters 1000-wicket club
NEW DELHI: Rangana Herath has been Sri Lanka’s premier matchwinner for the last seven years. His consistency and class have ensured that the team has not missed the services of Muttiah Muralitharan, who retired in 2010 against India after becoming the first bowler to take 800 wickets in Tests.
In the Colombo Test, the 38-year-old added yet another feather to his cap as he became only the second Sri Lankan bowler in history after Muralitharan to take 1000 first-class wickets. On day three of the second Test, Bangladesh made magnificent progress as Shakib Al Hasan slammed his fifth century to give the visitors a lead of over 100 in their 100th Test.
However, Herath, who had picked up the wicket of Tamim Iqbal on the previous day, came back and snapped up Mehedi Hasan for 18 to move to 999 wickets. He immediately got his 1000th wicket when he trapped Mustafizur Rahman LBW first ball. Although he missed the hattrick, Herath got the wicket of Mossaddek Hossain for 75 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 467.
In the previous Test in Galle, Herath created history as he became the leading left-arm spinner in Tests when he overtook Daniel Vettori’s mark of 362. His 29th five-wicket haul allowed Sri Lanka to register an easy 259-run win over Bangladesh and it cemented Herath’s class.
Muralitharan has a total of 1374 wickets in first-class cricket while Herath is the 12th Asian bowler to achieve this milestone.
DE KOCK STARS FOR SA
WELLINGTON: Quinton de Kock’s game-changing partnership with Temba Bavuma left South Africa feeling comfortable with an 81-run lead after day two of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday.
At 349 for nine at stumps in reply to New Zealand’s 268. De Kock made 91 and Bavuma 89, adding 160 for the seventh wicket.