Galle (Sri Lanka), July 22 (IANS) Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara dedicated his team’s ten-wicket win over India to Muttiah Muralitharan, who played his last Test at the Galle International Stadium here Thursday and retired in style by claiming his 800th wicket.
Muralitharan needed eight wickets in his swansong Test to reach the the landmark figure and he just about managed it, claiming the last Indian wicket for match figures of eight for 191, and setting up yet another Sri Lankan victory.
‘From the start we wanted to win the Test. We wanted to win it for Murali. I am pleased that he got to 800 wickets and I wish all the best to him.
‘I am also very happy with the performance of Lasith Malinga, he bowled really well. He turned the game for us and made it easier for Murali,’ Sangakkara said.
Malinga, who was making a comeback to Tests after more than a two-year injury layoff, took five wickets for 40 in the second innings.
‘I especially want to thank the ground staff for making such a good wicket. The match would not have been possible with all the rain,’ Sangakkara said.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also praised Muralitharan on reaching the landmark figure. ‘I am glad he got to 800 wickets. We all know he is a great player. We knew he he will come strong.’
The big defeat notwithstanding, Dhoni said there were a lot of positives for his side and he is confident of his team bouncing back in the three-Test series.
‘It is not the ideal start to the series. I am happy with the performance of (Virender) Sehwag. Our bowlers Ishant (Sharma) and (Abhimanyu) Mithun also did well in the match. It was a good learning game for the seamers.’
Dhoni, however, did acknowledge the absence of the seasoned seamers like Zaheer Khan in the team. ‘We did miss our senior seamers.’
