400 Test wickets for Lanka's Muralitharan

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan became the seventh bowler to take 400 Test wickets when he dismissed Zimbabwe tail-ender Henry Olonga on the fourth day of the third and final Test on Tuesday.

Muralitharan, 29, playing in his 72nd Test, bowled Olonga for a first-ball duck to become the fastest and youngest bowler to claim 400 Test wickets.

The Sri Lankan finished with figures of five for 67 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 236 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings 418.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne was the previous youngest, having reached the 400 milestone at the age of 31. Former New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee had been the quickest, taking 80 Tests.

Muralitharan began the day needing three wickets to reach 400. He started off by trapping Grant Flower lbw for 19 with his first ball and then went on to remove Travis Friend and Olonga off successive balls in his 59th over.

Both batsmen were out in identical fashion, playing forward and bowled leg stump without scoring.

Related feature:
A perfect 10 for the Kandy man? - A year by year look at the career of Muttiah Muralitharan.

Mail Cricket Editor