KANDY, Sri Lanka, 17 March 2004 — Muttiah Muralitharan became the third bowler in history to claim 500 wickets as Australia and Sri Lanka both collapsed in dramatic fashion on the opening day of the second Test yesterday.
Australia opted to bat on a lively wicket before being skittled for 120 in 42.2 overs.
The wickets kept tumbling, though, with the home side, already 1-0 down in the three-Test series, tottering on 92 for seven when bad light ended play.
Australia opener Matthew Hayden made 54, the only batsman to get past 20 all day, while the quick bowlers and the spinners prospered.
Muralitharan set the trend. Starting with 496 victims from 86 matches, he grabbed four for 48 from 15 overs. It was Australia’s lowest Test score against Sri Lanka.
Only Courtney Walsh, with 519, and Shane Warne, who passed the 500 mark during the first Test in Galle, have accumulated more wickets.
“It was happy moment for me to take 500 wickets against Australia, the best team in the world, and special for me to do it here in Kandy (his hometown),” Muralitharan said.
“I now want to play until the 2007 World Cup so I can play another 25 to 30 Tests and can reach 650 wickets.” Left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa stole some of the spotlight, taking a career-best four for 54 from 16 overs on his return to the Test team as Australia imploded from 47 for one.
Hayden and fellow opener Justin Langer rode their luck during the first hour before Zoysa broke through, Langer padding away an inswinger and falling lbw for three.
Ricky Ponting (10) started confidently, driving two boundaries off Zoysa, but was then trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas despite taking a big stride forward.
