Rangana Herath becomes only 2nd Sri Lankan to take 9 wickets in a Test innings

Rangana Herath

Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has become the first Sri Lankan bowler since Muttiah Muralitharan to take 9 wickets in an innings after taking 9/127 in the ongoing 2nd Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the SSC in Colombo.

Sri Lanka won the toss on day one and chose to bat in what is Mahela Jayawardene’s farewell Test match. They posted 320 on the board, courtesy of Upul Tharanga’s 92 from 179 balls. Pakistan, in their reply, started confidently and looked all set to secure a big lead in the 1st innings, but Herath’s effort of 9/127 had ensured that Sri Lanka are still well and truly in this match as Pakistan have been bowled out for 332, managing an insignificant lead of just 12 runs.

Herath, by claiming 9 wickets in an innings, has joined an illustrious list of bowlers - the likes of Abdul Qadir, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee to have taken 9 wickets in an innings - while Jim Laker and Anil Kumble remain the only ones to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings.

There were big concerns after the retirement of Muralitharan from Test cricket in 2010 about Sri Lanka’s ability to take 20 wickets in a Test. Herath, though, has completely allayed those concerns and been absolutely brilliant at handling the extra responsibility. He has taken already taken 255 wickets after having played 57 Tests and is the 4th quickest spinner to that landmark, only behind legendary spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Kumble.