Sri Lanka and West Indies met in match 39 of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 edition at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on Monday (July 1). With both sides out of the semifinals race from the current showpiece event in England and Wales, they played out a high-scoring contest wherein the Lankans came on top by 23 runs. They reached the target courtesy youngster Avishka Fernando’s maiden ODI hundred, which propelled their team score to 338 for 6 in 50 overs.
While Fernando starred with the bat, it was veteran pacer Lasith Malinga’s day out with the white ball. The 35-year-old kept the batsmen guessing with his variations and smart line and lengths to give nothing away easily and return with 10-0-55-3. He got the big wickets of Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope and in the process attained another milestone in his glittering career.
As a result, Malinga joined former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram in the list of most ODI World Cup wickets. He is now tied with the Pakistani speedster with as many as 55 scalps. The top five consists of three Islanders, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Malinga, whereas Glenn McGrath leads with 71 wickets. Murali is behind him by three.
Malinga, undoubtedly a legend of the modern-game, already has two World Cup hat-tricks in his kitty. Not only this, the Lankan pacer has got 12 wickets under his belt in the current marquee event and has entered the top ten in the wicket-takers’ list. The chart continues to be ruled by Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who has a significant lead with 24 victims up his sleeves.
