Sri Lanka Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya becomes the fastest in the world to take 50 Test wickets as a spinner and the fastest Sri Lankan bowler to take 50 Test wickets. He achieved this feat in his 7th test match for his team. The 31-year-old reached the milestone on day five against Ireland when he picked the wicket of Paul Stirling in the 2nd test in Galle.
Prabath Jayasuriya breaks the 71-year-old record and becomes the fastest-ever spinner to reach 50 wickets in Test wickets – both by matches (7) and by innings (13). The two pacers also claimed 50 wickets in seven Tests with Philander hitting the mark in 2012 and Richardson in 1896.
Jayasuriya had 43 wickets coming into this match and took five wickets in Ireland’s first innings and dismissed Peter Moor on day four in their second innings following the Stirling on day 5.
Prabath Jayasuriya storms into the record books as the quickest ?️? Spinner and the quickest Sri Lankan to reach 50 Test wickets,? joining the ranks of the second-fastest players in Test cricket history! ??
Jayasuriya hit the 50-wicket mark in just his seventh Test to snatch… pic.twitter.com/Jq6Ia2mZV0
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) April 28, 2023
The 31-year-old Jayasuriya has enjoyed a remarkable rise since a Test debut against Australia in July 2022, as he picked up 12 wickets in his debut, and from then on he produced some brilliant performances for the Sri Lanka side. Jayasuriya has taken five wickets in an innings six times including the one against Ireland in the first innings.
The previous fastest spinner to achieve this 50-wicket mark was West Indian great Alf Valentine, who reached the historic mark in eight Tests for Men in Maroon. Former Australia pacer Charlie Turner holds the record of being the fastest bowler to pick 50 wickets, as he did it in just six matches.
Though the visit of Ireland was not part of the World Test Championship, it has provided Sri Lanka with some excellent practice ahead of the next World Test Championship cycle. Sri Lanka will play only 5 test matches in 2023 and has been producing some dominating performances against the Ireland team.
Sri Lanka Rely Prabath Jayasuriya To Pick Quick Wickets In 2nd Innings Against Ireland
Coming into the match, Ireland batted brilliantly well in the 1st innings to post a total of 492 runs with Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher scoring a fantastic century to help them post the highest total against the star-studded Sri Lankan side, with their left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya picking up a sixth five-wicket haul
Coming into bat, Sri Lanka posted their seventh Test total of 700 or more on day four against Ireland, declaring on 704/3 after taking a 212-run lead in the second Test match in Galle. Their top four batters scored centuries equaling the record of India and Pakistan batters to achieve this unique feat in tests. Sri Lanka declared after taking a 212-run lead in the first innings on Day 4.
In the 2nd innings, at the time of writing, Sri Lanka is 4 wickets away from clinching their second consecutive victory, as Ireland was struggling at 159-6 in the second session of Day 5 and they will depend on Jayasuriya to pick crucial wickets on the Day 5 and would try to go for outright victory.