Sri Lankan Spinner Muttiah Muralidharan broke Shane Warne’s all-time Test record on the third day of the first Test to pave the way for Sri Lanka to edge into control against England on Monday.Muralidharan broke the record on Monday morning as he claimed six for 55 in 35 overs and England were bowled out for 281.
The 35-year-old, who now tallied 710 wickets, made it possible in 116 Tests while Warne had achieved his feat in 145 matches.
Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who later announced the match would be his final Test, was out for 78 as the hosts reached 167 for two at stumps to lead by 74 with two days remaining.
Kumar Sangakkara finished unbeaten on 30 with skipper Mahela Jayawardene yet to get off the mark.
Tied with Warne overnight, Muralidharan was forced to wait until his second spell of the morning before moving off the 708-wicket mark, bowling Paul Collingwood with a delivery from around the wicket that nipped straight on.
England had resumed on 186 for six, trailing Sri Lanka’s first innings total by two runs, but repelled Muralidharan and the host’s bowlers during the first hour as Collingwood (45) and Ryan Sidebottom (31) added 57 runs for the seventh wicket.
Lasith Malinga picked up the wicket of Sidebottom before Murali brought the house down.
The landmark wicket of Collingwood was greeted with loud firecrackers all around Asgiriya International Stadium and wild celebrations from a full house that included hundreds of children from his old school, his family and closest friends.
The 35-year-old added to his tally in the next over with the wicket of Matthew Hoggard (15), who was brilliantly stumped down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Muralidharan finished the innings with figures of six for 55, the 61st time he has taken five wickets in an innings.
