Colombo, Feb 05: Sri Lanka`s spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan Thursday became the world`s number One-day wicket taker when he dismissed Gautam Gambhir during the fourth ODI against India at the Premadasa stadium here.
The champion off-spinner surpassed former Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram`s mark of 502 wickets in one-day internationals when Gambhir (150) edged the first ball of his tenth over and the innings` 48th over.
Muralitharan has taken 328 ODIs to achieve this great feat at an average of 22.74 with his best figure being 7/30.
Muralitharan is already the world`s leading wicket-taker in Tests with 769 scalps in 125 matches.
In addition to becoming world`s leading wicket taker, the ace off spinner also became the country`s highest wicket taker against India. He has now captured 72 wickets against India from 60 one day internationals and beaten the record held by his fellow bowler Chaminda Vaas.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene at the beginning of the current Indian series said that Murali becoming the world best bowler in both versions of the game would be "yet another milestone for him and another one for Sri Lankan cricket".
Describing him as "a champion bowler", Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni earlier said it was "an amazing effort for a guy who started as a fast bowler and then turned into an off-spinner."
IANS
