SL vs NZ: Lasith Malinga becomes highest wicket-taker in T20Is
Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has become the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket, surpassing former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi. The recently retired veteran registered figures of 2/23 in the first T20I against New Zealand on Sunday.
With 99 scalps to his name, Malinga is now just one wicket away from completing a century of wickets. While Afridi took 99 matches for his 98 wickets, the Sri Lankan achieved the feat in just 74 T20Is. Earlier this year, the Lankan pacer announced his retirement from one-day cricket, playing his last ODI against Bangladesh. He ended his ODI career as Sri Lanka’s third-highest wicket-taker with 338 wickets. In 2011, Malinga bid goodbye to Test cricket to prolong his career in limited-overs cricket. His ability to use the yorker to great effect makes him a force to reckon with in the shorter formats.
Read: Lasith Malinga – Yorker king, match-winner, smiling assassin
Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga becomes the highest wicket-taker (99) in Twenty20 cricket. #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/vHIinIMuqn
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) September 1, 2019
Malinga works his magic but SL lose
On Sunday, New Zealand opener Colin Munro became Malinga’s 98th victim on the first ball he faced in the match. A vintage Malinga unleashed his trademark yorker delivery to disrupt Munro’s middle stump, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker with Afridi. Later, he repeated the feat against Colin de Grandhomme, who was looking set on 44. This one from Malinga dipped a little and swung late to puzzle de Grandhomme who was aiming for the leg side.
Despite Malinga’s best efforts, Sri Lanka could not get a handle on the result of the match. Earlier, a patient 79 from Kusal Mendis with lower-order contribution helped the hosts get to 174/4 in 20 overs. New Zealand lost their openers early, but de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor’s special efforts help them seal the win in the last over.
The Kiwis lead the 3-match series 1-0, with the second T20I to be played on Tuesday. With two more games in the series, Malinga could well go past the three-figure mark.
