SL set improbable target of 462, Herath retires as 8th-best bowler

Farewell in Galle: Rangana Herath – 93 matches, 433 wickets, Ave. 28.07

England set Sri Lanka an improbable target of 462 runs in just over two days in the first Test between the two countries in Galle on Thursday, 8 November.

The hosts were 15 without loss in seven overs in their second-innings at stumps on day three.

England scored 322 for six declared in their second-innings with Keaton Jennings making an unbeaten 146 top-scoring for the tourists.

Ben Stokes struck a fiery 62 with three sixes.

Rangana ends career with 433 wickets and as all-time eighth-best bowler –

Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner and one of the leading bowlers in all-time Test history, Rangana Herath took two more wickets in the England second-innings on Thursday  –that of skipper Joe Root and Jos Buttler– to share the eighth-place of the leading bowlers’ list in Tests.

He shares the eighth-place with England’s Chris Broad, with 433 scalps.

The current 6th to 10th positions of the highest wicket-takers list in Test cricket:

6th – Courtney Walsh – 519 wickets – 132 matches – Ave. 24.44

7th – Kapil Dev – 434 wickets – 131 matches – Ave. 29.64

8th= – Chris Broad – 433 wickets – 123 matches – Ave. 28.92

8th= – Rangana Herath – 433 wickets – 93 matches – Ave. 28.07

9th – Richard Hadlee – 431 – 86 matches – Ave. 22.29

10th – Dale Steyn – 421 wickets – 88 matches – Ave. 22.64