25 Jan 2009

Murali captures 500th one day wicket as Sri Lanka crush Pakistan

5:40 pm on 25 January 2009

Spin bowler Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took his 500th wicket in cricket one-day internationals as Sri Lanka humiliated hosts Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium to win their series 2-1.

Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan scored an unbeaten 137 runs to guide Sri Lanka to a commanding total of 309 for five.

In response, Pakistan could only muster 75.

It was Pakistan's lowest total against the Sri Lankans, their biggest loss to the visiting side and the second largest defeat in a one-day match between two Test-playing nations.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's record-breaking spinner plans to play through until the 2011 World Cup before he finally retires.

The 36-year-old is the only bowler to take 500 wickets in both test and one-day cricket.

Muralitharan says his ambition is to play until the next World Cup and then he will call it quits.

Already the highest wicket taker in Tests with 769 victims from 125 matches, Muralitharan needs another three wickets to surpass Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram's record of 502 in one-day matches.