#OTD in 2010: Muttiah Muralitharan took his 800th Test wicket

On this day in 2010, Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan scalped his 800th wicket in the Test format. It all transpired in the first fixture of the red-ball series between India and Sri Lanka at Galle.

This game also marked the last appearance of Muralitharan in the purest format. The off-spinner was just eight wickets shy of reaching the miraculous landmark ahead of this series. 

Sri Lanka enforce follow-on after a lead of 244 in the first innings

The Kumar Sangakkara-led side won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts posted a mammoth total of 520 on the board, with centuries from Tharanga Paranavitana and Sangakkara. The pick of the bowlers for India was Abhimanyu Mithun with four scalps. 

In response, Gautam Gambhir hit a ton and got support from Yuvraj Singh (52) at the other end for the visitors. However, Muralitharan picked five wickets to bundle out India for 276. 

Muralitharan reaches the landmark in an epic fashion

The then 38-year-old spinner had already decided to sign off from red-ball format after the culmination of this game. However, captain Sangakkara was hell-bent on Muralitharan, only retiring after he reached the milestone of 800 wickets. 

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In the second innings, the experienced Sachin Tendulkar (84) and Rahul Dravid (44) held the fort well for the team. 

On the final day (22 July), VVS Laxman was terrific with his resistance to steer the team with the tail-enders. By then, Murali already had 799 scalps under his belt, while India had only two wickets left. 

Laxman (69) was run-out, which put enough pressure on the spinner. Furthermore, Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha held their patience to stay at the crease for a longer duration. 

However, Murali finally induced Ojha's edge (13), to which Jayawardene plunged forward and took a diving catch at the first slip. 

The entire team was ecstatic with the spinner becoming the first bowler in world cricket to pick 800 Test wickets. 

Afterwards, Paranavitana (23*) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (68*) helped Sri Lanka chase down the target of 96 under 15 overs.

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