In a Test match where the first innings of both sides were yet to be completed well into the fourth day, two dramatic collapses from either team in the last five sessions ensured the Abu Dhabi Test had a memorable finish. In their first Test post the Younis - Misbah era, Pakistan were all set for a splendid win before they crossed paths with old nemesis Rangana Herath. Chasing a target of 136 to win, the home side were bundled out for 114 with Herath running amok with his 33rd five-fer in Tests (6 for 43).
AGE-DEFYING
Herath, the marathon man
Rangana Herath picked up his 100th Test wicket against Pakistan. © Getty
In the process, he became the 14th player and the second left-arm bowler to reach the milestone of 400 wickets after Wasim Akram (414 wickets from 104 Tests). He is the second Sri Lankan to the milestone after Muttiah Muralitharan who reached there in just 72 Tests - fastest among the 14. The only others to reach the milestone faster than Herath are Richard Hadlee and Dale Steyn, both of whom took 80 matches each. At 39 years and 197 days, Herath is also the oldest to reach the landmark, beating Hadlee who was 38 years and 216 days old when he got No.400.
Fewest Tests to 400 wickets
| Player | Team | Tests | Balls bowled | Days from debut | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Kumble | Ind | 85 | 26885 | 5173 | 33y 355d |
| R Herath | SL | 84 | 23836 | 6586 | 39y 197d |
| Dale Steyn | SA | 80 | 16716 | 3878 | 32y 33d |
| R Hadlee | NZ | 80 | 20453 | 6212 | 38y 216d |
| M Muralitharan | SL | 72 | 24061 | 3428 | 29y 273d |
101 of Herath's 400 Test wickets are against Pakistan. He became the first bowler to take a century of Test wickets against them, going past the previous tally of 99 wickets by Kapil Dev (in nine more matches). These 101 wickets include his best innings figures of 9 for 127 and best match figures of 14 for 184
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