Spinning duo versus India

Muttiah Muralitharan & Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)

19 wickets at Colombo, 2008. India lost by an innings and 239 runs inside four days. The world record holder for the most Test wickets Muttiah Muralitharan combined with debutant Ajantha Mendis to completely mesmerised Indian batsmen with quality exhibition of spin bowling. The duo accounted for all but one wicket at an astonishingly low average of 12.73. None of the so-called “strong Indian batting line-up” could read them with any degree of conviction with V.V.S.Laxman being the only player to cross fifty runs mark. Muralitharan with 11 victims in the game was voted Man of the Match.

Text: Anant Gaundalkar

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Bad boys of cricket | Murali and Mendis maul India