If the ICC scheduale more home tests than away, than Murali will defintely reach 700 wickets, I like to see how he bowls outside subcontinent, he is very ordinary.
Polluck was one run short of his century.
South Africa First Innings
Batsman Runs Balls 4s 6s
G C Smith lbw b C R D Fernando 15 47 1 0
H H Gibbs run out 92 216 11 0
G Kirsten c K H R K Fernando b C R D Fernando 11 25 2 0
J H Kallis b K H R K Fernando 84 196 9 0
A G Prince c K C Sangakkara b W P U J C Vaas 20 73 2 0
N D McKenzie lbw b M K G C P Lak****ha 28 90 4 0
M V Boucher c and b M K G C P Lak****ha 63 134 6 0
**S M Pollock not out 99 170 9 2 **
A J Hall lbw b M Muralitharan 0 9 0 0
S Elworthy c H P Tillakaratne b M Muralitharan 5 18 1 0
M Ntini c R P Arnold b W P U J C Vaas 8 22 1 0
Extras 4b 10lb 4w 5nb 23
**TOTAL 166.3 overs (all out) 448 **
Srilanka in trouble.
Sri Lanka Second Innings
Batsman Runs Balls 4s 6s
M S Atapattu c M V Boucher b J H Kallis 22 53 4 0
J Mubarak c M V Boucher b M Ntini 15 27 3 0
**K C Sangakkara c M V Boucher b M Ntini 89 132 15 0 **
D P M D Jayawardene not out 40 98 6 0
H P Tillakaratne not out 0 5 0 0
Extras 9b 1lb 1w 3nb 14
**TOTAL 52.0 overs (for 3 wickets) 180 **
**Sri Lanka put a 125-run first innings deficit behind them on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa, reaching 180-3 in their second attempt.
But bad light brought an end to proceedings an hour early at Centurion Park, all but ending the tourists’ hopes of a win to square the series. **
South Africa was dismissed for 448 in its first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 323.
And they took a firmer grip immediately after lunch, as Jacques Kallis removed stand-in captain Marvan Atapatu for 22 in just his first over.
But, for the rest of the day, the hosts were on the defensive as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene plundered the bowling in a third wicket stand of 119.
Sangakkara was dismissed shortly before the close, caught behind chasing a Makhaya Ntini delivery down the leg side, but not before he had smashed 89 from 132 deliveries, with 15 fours.
Jayawardene was more the technically correct batsman, but he survived a real going over by the South African bowlers to be well set on 40 not out.
There was a moment of conflict when Jayawardene reacted angrily to an apparently jocular remark from Shaun Pollock, after hooking the South Africa captain for a boundary.
But match referee Gundappa Viswanath said the matter had been sorted out between the umpire and the players and there would be no formal report.
The home side 421 for nine overnight, added the extra 27 runs in the first half-hour of the day.
But Pollock was left stranded on an undefeated 99 as Ntini needlessly holed out to mid on for eight off Chaminda Vaas.
Pollock’s 99 came off 170 balls, and included nine fours, and two sixes.
Ntini engineered an early breakthrough, as umpire Darryl Harper of Australia adjudged opener Jehan Mubarak caught behind for 15, even though replays showed there was no edge.
Sangakkara Misses Ton, But Puts SL Ahead
CENTURION, South Africa: **Kumar Sangakkara fell 11 runs short of a century as Sri Lanka began to build a lead over South Africa on day four of the second Test at Centurion on Monday.
When bad light and a looming thunderstorm stopped play 28 overs early, Sri Lanka were 180 for three in their second innings, a lead of 55, with Mahele Jayawardene 40 not out and Hashan Tillakaratne yet to score.**
South Africa were earlier dismissed for 448 in their first innings, with captain Shaun Pollock left stranded just a run short of his third Test century. There was a 20-minute delay shortly after tea as umpires Daryl Harper and Russell Tiffin called for the floodlights to be turned on as thunder clouds gathered in the distance.
Even once the lights were fully functional, visibility was poor, but Sangakkara and Jayawardene turned down the offer of bad light in favour of extending Sri Lanka’s lead. It did not work in their favour, however, as shortly afterwards Sangakkara he was superbly caught down the leg side off Makhaya Ntini by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
He made a brave and fluent 89 in a little under three hours off 132 balls and hit 15 fours. His partnership with Jayawardene for the third wicket was worth 119 runs. Ten minutes later Jayawardene and Tillakaratne chose to accept the offer of light in conditions that were becoming dangerous. The Sri Lankan second innings did not start well, although there was a huge dose of misfortune about the dismissal of opener Jehan Mubarak for 15.
The young left-hander was given out caught behind to Ntini, although television replays clearly showed he had made no contact with the ball. Stand-in captain Marvan Atapattu followed shortly after lunch for 22, caught behind as he flashed loosely at the second ball of the day from Jacques Kallis.
At the start of play Pollock moved from 78 to 99 with the minimum of bother, pulling Muttiah Muralitharan over mid-wicket for six and intelligently protecting number 11 Ntini from the strike.
With his captain needing one run for his century, Ntini tried to drive Chaminda Vaas over mid-off and was caught by Russel Arnold for eight. Pollock looked to the heavens in frustration before heading for the pavilion. His undefeated 99 came in just over four hours, during which he faced 170 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Question: *
Just looked at his recored he has 433 wickets so far and the guy is 30 or 31 years old. I guess I am wrong in my above statement that he won't be able take 500 wickets, I guess he might be able to take 500 wickets but 750+ nah thats too much.
[/QUOTE]
Slow bowlers can bowl till about 40 and sometimes 40+ years old. That indicate that, bar injury, that Murali most likely is presently only halfway in his career. You go and do the maths again....
People write him off outside SLanka, but I believe him to be as good as Warne.
a interesting match going on bween SA and SL -
SL - 323 and 245
SA - 448 and ** 112/7 **
require 9 more runs with 3 wkts remaining
at one stage they were 32/4 after they were subjected to some fiery spell by Dilhara Fernando...
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by oursoulsatpeace: *
a interesting match going on bween SA and SL -
SL - 323 and 245
SA - 448 and * 112/7 **
require 9 more runs with 3 wkts remaining
at one stage they were 32/4 after they were subjected to some fiery spell by Dilhara Fernando...
[/QUOTE]
not a fiery spell by fernando , rather thier poor shot slections!
anywys south africa have one the match by 3 wickets...
close finish!! Well done
*Second Test, Centurion, day five: South Africa 448 & 124-7 beat Sri Lanka 323 & 245 by three wickets *
it surely had been an exciting match, a match which had so many turn arounds, specially in the South African second innings, and hats off to the groundsmen to make such a pitch which shows excitment till 5 days!!!
[thumb=A]kumar1.JPG[/thumb]
Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, center, hits a four, watched by teammate Mahela Jayawardene, back, on the fourth day of their second five-day cricket test against South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa
[thumb=A]hasnath.JPG[/thumb]
Sri Lankan batsman Hasantha Fernando, right, avoids a bouncer from South African bowler Shaun Pollock, left, on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa.
[thumb=A]Hashan.JPG[/thumb]
Sri Lankan batsman Hashan Tillakaratne, left, fends off a high ball from South African bowler Makhaya Ntini, right, watched by South African captain Shaun Pollock, back, on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa
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South African captain Shaun Pollock, left, punches the air as he takes the wicket of Sri Lankan batsman Russel Arnold, right, on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa.
[thumb=A]Hasantha.JPG[/thumb]
Sri Lankan batsman Hasantha Fernando avoids a bouncer on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zig~Zag: *
[thumb=A]hasnath.JPG[/thumb]
Sri Lankan batsman Hasantha Fernando, right, avoids a bouncer from South African bowler Shaun Pollock, left, on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa.
[/QUOTE]
Polluck has just been amazing. With bat and with ball as well.
Great Captain and All-rounder as well.
[thumb=A]Gary.JPG[/thumb]
South African batsman Gary Kirsten is hit on the glove to be caught out on the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa.
[thumb=A]Pollock.JPG[/thumb]
South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock, left, gives vice-captain Mark Boucher, right, a high-five at the finish of the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2002. South Africa won the match by three wickets to take the test series 2-0.
** Check this out **
[thumb=A]The%20Cup.JPG[/thumb]
South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock holds the winners trophy aloft at the finish of the fifth day of the second cricket test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, played in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2002. South Africa won the match by three wickets to take the test series 2-0.