HARARE, May 6: Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed the headlines again on Thursday when he became Test cricket's joint highest wicket-taker of all time on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe.
On a momentous day, Muralitharan moved on to the 519 mark after taking six for 45 as Sri Lanka dismissed a second-string Zimbabwe for 199. The visitors closed on 67 for no wicket with Sanath Jayasuriya 43 not out and skipper Marvan Atapattu on 21.
Muralitharan had gone into the match with 513 wickets, needing seven more to pass the record held by former West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh. On the way to joining Walsh he overtook Australia's Shane Warne who has 517 wickets from 110 Tests.
"Murali" has reached the 519 mark in only 89 Tests compared to 132 for Walsh who retired in 2001. The spinner looks sure to break the record when Zimbabwe bat again - a huge boost for the 32-year-old whose bent-arm action continues under scrutiny.
Muralitharan struck after lunch when he trapped Alester Maregwede in front for a duck, before dismissing Mluleki Nkala for two in similar fashion six overs later. Tatenda Taibu prodded the third ball of Muralitharan's 15th over to Mahela Jayawardene at silly mid-off to be out for a patient 40, and the over ended with Blessing Mahwire being bowled off his pads without scoring.
Muralitharan took his fifth wicket when Prosper Utseya misjudged the flight of a full delivery and was bowled for 45. The innings ended when Muralitharan bowled Douglas Hondo round his legs for 19.
Zimbabwe had to field a makeshift team after 15 experienced players refused to make themselves available in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. Captain Taibu, at the age of 20, is the youngest skipper in Test history.
The rebels want binding arbitration to resolve their grievances with the ZCU, who have offered mediation, which is not binding. The morning's play had belonged to left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa, who shared the new ball with Chaminda Vaas and took three for 16 as Zimbabwe slipped to 57 for four at the interval.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE (1st Innings):
S. Matsikenyeri c M. J'dene b Zoysa 10
B.R.M. Taylor c and b Maharoof 19
D.D. Ebrahim lbw b Zoysa 1
T. Taibu c M. J'dene b Muralitharan 40
E. Chigumbura c Muralitharan b Zoysa 14
A. Maregwede lbw b Muralitharan 0
M.L. Nkala lbw b Muralitharan 2
P. Utseya b Muralitharan 45
N.B. Mahwire b Muralitharan 0
D.T. Hondo b Muralitharan 19
T. Panyangara not out 32
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6, NB-7) 17
TOTAL (all out, 71.2 overs) 199
FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-32, 3-35, 4-57, 5-69, 6-85, 7-118, 8-118, 9-149.
TO BAT: K.C. Sangakkara, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene, T.M. Dilshan, T.T. Samaraweera, H.A.P.W. Jayawardene, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, M.F. Maharoof, D.N.T. Zoysa, M. Muralitharan.
