Murali retires with record 800 Test wickets

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BNP-led 18-party alliance organised a rally in front of BNP central office at Naya Paltan in the city Monday. — FE Photo

GALLE, Sri Lanka, July 22 (AFP): World bowling record-holder Muttiah Muralitharan retired with 800 Test wickets on Thursday as Sri Lanka thumped India by 10 wickets in their first Test.
The off-spinner had last man Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene to reach the landmark and terminate India's second innings in the post-lunch session of the final day's play.
India, who were made to follow on 244 runs behind, were bowled out for 338 in their second knock, leaving Sri Lanka a modest target of 95 runs in the opening match of the three-Test series.
The hosts cruised home without losing a wicket as Tharanga Paranavitana followed his first-innings century with 23 not out and Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 68 off 47 balls.
Dilshan signalled the emphatic win by lofting off-spinner Harbhajan Singh over long-on for six.
"We could not have scripted it better," said Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara. "We won the match and Murali got his 800. There has not been a better bowler in the game than him.
"Our focus was always on winning the match. The second day was washed out, but the team responded superbly after that. It was great to see (Lasith) Malinga come back strongly and pick up a fiver in the second innings.
"There won't be another Murali, so I won't even try to find one. But we have capable replacements and we are focused on winning the series."
Muralitharan, 38, who has taken more Test (800) and one-day (515) wickets than any bowler in history, remains open to playing limited-overs games.
He claimed 5-63 in the first innings of his final appearance and 3-128 in the second to set up the hosts' victory at the Galle International Stadium.
Some 15,000 fans, including Muralitharan's parents, his Indian wife, Madhimalar, and four-year old son, Naren, faced anxious moments before the landmark was achieved.