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Malinda Pushpakumara
Malinda Pushpakumara, the 38-year-old seasoned left-arm orthodox spinner achieved a rare milestone in his cricket career when he passed 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket during Badureliya SC’s Major Club 3-day league match against Moors SC at the Colts grounds on Monday.
Pushpakumara began with a tally of 998 wickets and playing in his 173rd first-class match achieved the landmark when he bowled Pasindu Sooriyabandara for 46 in the Moors SC first innings. He became the joint quickest among Asian players to achieve the feat alongside Muttiah Muralitharan who also took the same number of matches.
Pushpakumara went on to take seven wickets in the match and carry his tally of wickets to 1005. He played a supporting role to off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha (12/136) in Badureliya SC’s upset win over Moors SC by an innings.
He became the fourth Sri Lankan bowler to achieve the landmark after Muralitharan (1374 wickets), Rangana Herath (1080) and Dinuka Hettiarachchi (1001).
A product of Lumbini College Pushpakumara has been playing first-class cricket for almost two decades having made his debut for Kurunegala YCC against Singha SC. In the little time that play was possible in the rain-affected game Pushpakumara made his mark capturing two of the three wickets to fall for 18 runs in 13.2 overs.
Since then Pushpakumara has plied his trade with nine first-class clubs. The secret of his success has been his consistency which is unparalleled. He has been the leading wicket-taker in the country’s premier club tournament for several years, his shrewd left-arm spin coupled with dangerous variations making him a prized asset for any club.
He would have played in more than the 4 Tests had some of his best years not run parallel to that of Rangana Herath, the most successful left-arm spinner in Test cricket.
Pushpakumara graduated from school to Sri Lanka U19 level and Sri Lanka ‘A’ before breaking into the national side.
Pushpakumara holds the best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan in first-class cricket taking all ten wickets in an innings (10/37) for CCC against Saracens SC in 2018-19. Pramodya Wickramasinghe (the present chief cricket selector) is the only other Sri Lankan to achieve the feat – 10/41 for SSC against Kalutara PCC in 1991-92.
– [ST]
