Breaking a record that stood for seven decades, Sri Lanka's left-arm orthodox spinner Prabath Jayasuriya entered his name in history books by becoming the fastest spinner to take 50 wickets in Test cricket.
On the fifth day of the second Test against Ireland in Galle, Jayasuriya dismissed Paul Stirling (1) to reach the milestone in his seventh Test, breaking the record of West Indian great Alf Valentine, who reached the mark in eight Tests.
The 31-year-old Jayasuriya came into the match with 43 wickets. He took five wickets in Ireland's first innings and dismissed Peter Moor on day four in their second.
Overall, the Sri Lankan spinner is now the joint second-quickest to 50 Test wickets, behind Australian pacer Charlie Turner who got there in six Tests in 1888. England pacer Tom Richardson and South African seamer Vernon Philander took 50 wickets in seven Tests.
(With agency inputs)
