Rangana Herath fourth fastest to 400 Test wickets

Rangana Herath acknowledges the crowd after taking 11 wickets in the match for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Photo: Kamran Jebreili/AP

Rangana Herath acknowledges the crowd after taking 11 wickets in the match for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Photo: Kamran Jebreili/AP

Published Oct 2, 2017

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ABU DHABI – Wily left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was delighted as he joined the 400-wicket club with a six-wicket haul that helped Sri Lanka to a narrow 21-run win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The 39-year-old finished with 6/43 – 11/136 in the match – to help Sri Lanka dismiss Pakistan for 114 after they were set a target of 136 to win on the fifth and final day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Herath’s dismissal of last batsman Mohammad Abbas was his 400th wicket in his 84th Test, becoming the 14th most successful bowler and fifth spinner in the five-day format to reach the milestone.

He also completed 100 wickets against Pakistan in 20 Tests when he claimed his fifth scalp.

He is the first bowler to take a century of wickets against Pakistan, beating Indian paceman Kapil Dev, who fell one short with 99.

That feeling when you become the 1st Left arm spin bowler to reach 400 test wickets. #ApeKollek #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/JwcTLe0Eq0

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) October 2, 2017

Herath was delighted at reaching the milestone.

“I’m so happy with the remarkable achievement of 400 wickets,” said Herath after the match. “All credit should go to the people behind me, from my parents to the team and the supporting staff.”

Herath, who took 5/93 in Pakistan’s first innings of 422, admitted there was help from the pitch, on which 16 wickets fell on the last day.

“There was some assistance from the surface. There was something for the spinners, so I got this success,” he said.

Herath took 23 wickets against Pakistan in 2014 – a world record in a two-match series – and he said he had no clue why he was continually so successful against the nation.

Outstanding performances from our boys in the first test match against Pakistan! #ApeKollo #OneTeamOneNation #WeBelieve pic.twitter.com/h8HsTSRiLS

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) October 2, 2017

“I have no idea. I’ve played nearly 20 Tests, maybe that’s why,” he said.

He is the second Sri Lankan to take 400 or more wickets behind Muttiah Muralitharan, who is the highest wicket taker in Test history with 800.

He also became the fourth fastest to the milestone behind Muralitharan (72 Tests), New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee (80 Tests) and South African Dale Steyn (80 Tests).

The second Test – a day-night affair – will start in Dubai from Friday.

AFP

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