Lasith Malinga played his last ODI on Friday, against Bangladesh at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Malinga's career that spanned over 15 years and four World Cups. And a way to end with a wicket on the last ball of his ODI career.
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| A guard of honour for Lasith Malinga |
From 4 wickets in 4 consecutive deliveries against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup and taking Sri Lanka home to bowling the slower yorker on the ultimate delivery of the game to clinch record 4th title for Mumbai Indian's in the 2019 IPL Final, Malinga redefined the art of death bowling in his career's prime. With toe crushing yorkers to slower balls deceiving the batsman Lasith Malinga built a reputation for himself in International Cricket. Despite of that Sling'y action he was dead accurate, Batsman would find it hard to read him. Probably the 'best death bowler of this generation'.
Sri Lanka posted a big total of 314 for 8 courtesy of Kusal Perera's match winning hundred(111 of 99 balls with 17 fours and a six) and some valuable contributions from Angelo Mathews(48) and Kusal Mendis(43). Defending a target of 315 runs against Bangladesh, the 35-year-old gave a perfect start to Sri Lanka by dismissing both openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar cheaply for duck and 15, respectively with his brutal pace.
Malinga with the last ball of his ODI career removed Mustafizur Rahman (18) on the penultimate ball of his spell to eventually finish with brilliant figures of three for 38 in his farewell game as Sri Lanka bundled out Bangladesh for 223 to wrap up the game inside 41.4 overs.
Lasith Malinga with his family following his final career ODI 👨👩👧👦 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/En7vzN7ctK— ICC (@ICC) July 27, 2019
Lasith Malinga is the third-highest wicket-taker in Sri Lanka’s ODI history after Muttiah Muralitharan (523) and Chaminda Vaas (399). Malinga has so far taken 335 wickets in 219 ODI innings.
Lasith Malinga also holds the record of taking two World Cup hat-tricks, first against South Africa in the 2007 Cricket World Cup and second against Kenya in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
He is also the only bowler to have taken three hat-tricks in ODIs and the only player in the history of cricket to have taken four wickets in four consecutive balls.
Overall, Malinga has taken 4 international hat-tricks, most by a Sri Lankan player and joint highest along with Pakistan’s Wasim Akram.
Lasith Malinga along with Angelo Mathews also holds the highest run partnership for the 9th wicket in an ODI with 132 runs against Australia in 2010. Malinga had scored 56 runs off 48 balls in the match, which is the fourth-highest score by a No. 10 batsman in ODI history. Malinga holds the record of highest ODI score for Sri Lanka at No. 10 position and he is also the only Sri Lankan player to score a fifty at the position.
Malinga is the fourth Sri Lankan to take 300 ODI wickets, after Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya. He is the fifth-fastest to reach the landmark in 203 matches.
He is also the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets in World Cups in 26 innings.
Malinga who finished with the figure's of 3 for 38 in his final game said in the post match 'My time is over, I've to go'. Though he is still hopeful to play the T20I's and wish to play the World T20 in Australia in 2020.
Malinga who finished with the figure's of 3 for 38 in his final game said in the post match 'My time is over, I've to go'. Though he is still hopeful to play the T20I's and wish to play the World T20 in Australia in 2020.
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