Wily left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was left delighted as he joined the 400-wicket club with a six-wicket haul that helped Sri Lanka to a narrow 21-run win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
The 39-year-old finished with 6-43 — 11-136 in the match — to help Sri Lanka dismiss Pakistan for 114 after they were set a target of 136 to win on the fifth and final day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Herath’s dismissal of last batsman Mohammad Abbas was his 400th wicket in his 84th Test, becoming the 14th most successful bowler and fifth spinner in the five-day format to reach the milestone.
He also completed 100 wickets against Pakistan in 20 Tests when he took the fifth wicket. He is the first bowler to take a century of wickets against Pakistan, beating Indian paceman Kapil Dev who fell one short with 99.
Herath was delighted at reaching the milestone.
“I’m so happy with the remarkable achievement of 400 wickets,” said Herath after the match. “All credit should go to the people behind me, from my parents to the team and the supporting staff.”
Herath, who took 5-93 in Pakistan’s first innings of 422, admitted there was help from the pitch on which 16 wickets fell on the last day.
“There was some assistance from the surface. There was something for the spinners so I got this success,” he said.
Herath took 23 wickets against Pakistan in 2014 — a world record in a two-match series, and he said he had no clue why he was continually so successful against the nation.
“I have no idea. I’ve played nearly 20 Tests, maybe that’s why,” he said.
He is the second Sri Lankan to take 400 or more wickets behind Muttiah Muralitharan who is the highest wicket taker in all Test cricket with 800.
He also became the fourth fastest to the milestone behind Muralitharan (72 Tests), New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee (80 Tests) and South Africa Dale Steyn (80 Tests).
The second Test — a day night affair — will start in Dubai from Friday.