Cricket Update: How Muttiah Muralitharan- Hall of Famer got 800 wickets!!!
When Galle Test began, Murali was 8 wickets short of 800. Few would have expected the maestro to reach the 800 mark in his last Test, keeping in mind the strength of Indian batting line-up. However, the legendary off-spinner showed typical resolute, as he took five-wicket haul in first innings to shorten the gap to three wickets.
He entered the fifth day needing two wickets, took one as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772.
Murali almost ran out the last pair himself but it was lady luck which was smiling on Murali’s fate. After 23 wickets-less overs, the frustration was adding for both Murali and his fans. Even ardent fans started to suspect whether that moment will come or not. Ironically, the time and struggle to take last wicket symbolised the labour that went into the preceding 799.
With the fate of World No.1 team sealed from day 1, the eyes were all on Murali. With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 sent back to pavilion by Malinga’s reverse swinging Yorker, the battle for the match was over. The final day had all the making of a climatic finish. Murali’s team-mate Lasith Malinga almost ruined the golden moment, as he sent tail-enders one after another back to pavilion. The Indian lower order led by Laxman refused to surrender. Even the climate in the form of clouds threatened to rain. The fury of Malinga was evident, as he removed the Indian batsmen and produced one of best bowling spells of the match. Even skipper Sangakkara had to intervene as he removed Malinga to give some time to Murali to achieve his feat.
Murali came to this match with two decades of experience. He is now 38 and played four World Cups for his country including winning the 1996 edition. Despite of the toll the age took on him, he still produced magical deliveries and took a five wicket haul in his last Test match. On the fourth day, he mesmerized everyone as he removed Dhoni with a magical off-break and twice made veteran Yuvraj Singh look like an amateur. Today, he knew that it was determination and patience that was required of him not the magical deliveries.
Moreover, he did exactly that as his patience paid him off. Just when everyone watching Galle Test began to fear the worst case, it happened. Ojha misjudged a lifted off break as the ball touched his bat to reach slip, where Mahela Jayawardene was waiting to grab his 77th catch off Murali's bowling. Murali screamed with joy, as his team-mates raised him on their shoulders to pay tribute to a future Hall of Famer. The crowd roared and the fireworks exploded as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 celebrated his achievement. Murali created history, he become the first bowler to ever cross the 800 mark in Test Cricket. This achievement is the greatest by any bowler.
Talking to media after the match, Murali said, “I am very happy that God has given me everything - eight wickets, a victory, basically everything. This is one of the greatest moments in my life, retiring this way.”
Commenting on the match, he said, “I told my captain Kumar Sangakkara to somehow get the wickets. We knew the situation in Galle and had the match ended in a draw it would have been very sad. I badly wanted to win in my final Test. We all play for a win. At that moment, we would have taken even a run out. It was hard work for the spinners. The wicket had something on it yesterday, and Malinga's magnificent Yorkers made the difference.”
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