Pakistan brace for record-breaking Muralitharan, Mendis

Sri Lankan spin magicians Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis loom as major threats for Pakistan in their three-match one-day series which opens here Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Muralitharan, already the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 769, will have the extra motivation of overhauling the tally of one-day wickets, currently held by Pakistan's Wasim Akram with 502.

The wily off-spinner needs just nine wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in both forms of the game.

But the unorthodox Mendis holds more challenges for the home team.

The 23-year-old army officer is not a big turner of the ball like his more illustrious partner Muralitharan, but the key to his success is the way he grips the ball with his fingers and flicks it to bowl a variety of deliveries.

Last week he became the quickest bowler to get 50 wickets in one-day cricket, having made his debut only last year.

In his only match against Pakistan, Mendis took four wickets. He then took six wickets in the very next match against India to help Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup here in July last year.

Pakistan's first plan is to outwit Sri Lanka with pace as they named six fast bowlers in their squad of 15 with fit-again Shoaib Akhtar leading the pack.

Akhtar, 33, missed all matches in Pakistan's 3-0 win against the West Indies at Abu Dhabi in November last year.

The home team can also take heart from Sri Lanka's unimpressive batting despite winning the tri-series in Bangladesh last week.

Pakistan hastily arranged the one-day series with Sri Lanka after India pulled out of a planned tour amid hightened political tension in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

The second match will be played here on Wednesday, while the final match is in Lahore on Saturday.

Mendis an extra special blend

There seems to be no stopping Ajantha Mendis that off-spinning sensation from the Army from breaking records and getting statisticians to rewrite the books.

First he erased former England's medium pacer ,Alex BedserAlex Bedser's record. Bedser had taken 24 wickets in a three Test debut series against India and that epic feat stood for over 51 years until Mendis came along and struck Bedser's name off the books and put him to second best by capturing 25 wickets.

Not satisfied with that, Mendis has now pocketed another record, that of getting to 50 wickets in one-day Internationals in just 19 matches. The earlier record stood to the name of India's Ajith Agakar who captured 50 wickets in 23 matches.

Incredible is the best way to describe Mendis' feats with the ball. If these two achievements are an indication, then he is on the way to more records.

Mendis, emerging from a little known school where he did not have the best facilities to ply his trade and improve, showed his capabilities once joining the Army.

There he was nursed and nurtured and allowed to blossom with his mentor in the Army Major General V.R. Silva a former Maliyadeva cricketer and hockey player showing him how. Somewhat of a freak like, the West Indian of old Sonny Ramadhin, he got into the wicket taking act playing in the Premier League.

Batsmen who fronted up to him, were non-plussed as to how to read and play him. He seemed to have six different deliveries, bowled with an off break action and once it pitched, batsmen did not know which way the ball was going and they were lured to their demise.

Apparently the most vicious of all his deliveries is the `carrom ball' delivered with the style of a carrom player, where he flicks the ball at the last moment.

Mendis could not play in the first match of the triangular series in Bangladesh. Had he done so, he would have obtained the record much earlier. Recovering from an ankle injury, he made his presence felt in the game against Zimbabwe to grab the record.

Mendis first made it to the Sri Lanka team when he toured the Caribbean for the one-day series. There, former West Indian greats and the knowledgeable who saw him told me that in this guy they see Ramadhin reborn and predicted a great future for him.

He has since not let his admirers down and is continuing to mesmerise batsmen who come up against him. Most batsmen seem to be just prodding at his deliveries not knowing which way the ball is turning and hoping against hope that they would connect.

Unassuming and the likeable Mendis first showed his mystic powers in Test cricket when he bamboozled the Indian batsmen when they came up against him early last year.

None of the Indian batsmen, which included willow wielders of the class of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V. Laxman and V. Shewag were comfortable against him and were undone by his wiles.

Test wicket record holder Muttiah Muralitharan is also in line to add another record to his career, needing 10 more wickets to go past former Pakistan Captain Wasim Arkam who holds the record for the most number of wickets in one-day Internationals.

Akram called it a day with 512 wickets. Muralitharan now has 492. The record should spin Muralitharan's way when the Indians tour here soon for five one-day Internationals.

Pakistan doing homework to tackle Mendis: Intikhab Alam

Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam on Saturday said spinner Ajantha Mendis was the biggest threat for them in the upcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka and they were preparing well to tackle him.

Pointing out that Muttiah Muralitharan and Mendis were best spinners in the world, he said the Pakistan team knew Murlai's bowling style well, having played him a lot, but was working on ways to counter Mendis.

"We have been watching videos of both of them specially Mendis and we will be ready for him. We have collected information but that is not for public consumption.

"We have seen videos of all his (Mendis') recent matches and we will go out and be positive against him," he said.

Alam said that the team was using unorthodox methods to prepare for Mendis but said he could not disclose details.

Alam is impressed by Mendis, who he feels adds to the charm of the game which can be used in popularising Test cricket.

"I think when you have players like Mendis around it adds to the charm of the game and unconventional players like him can help boost the popularity of Test cricket," Alam said on Saturday.

Alam said Mendis was not a conventional and orthodox spinner and that is why he had gained success in such a short period of time.

"In the past there have been some bowlers like him Sonny Ramadin of West Indies, Gleeson from Australia and they always were a mystery for the batsmen because of their unusual bowling grip and variations," he said.

Ajantha Mendis becomes the Fastest to take 50 wickets in One-Day Internationals

The sensational Sri Lankan cricket star Ajantha Mendis of the Sri Lanka Army was adjudged the fastest wicket taker in One-Day Internationals with 50 wickets taken in 19 matches.

Ajantha Mendis achieved this historic attainment breaking the record of Ajith Agarkar of India who took the same number of wickets in 23 matches.

Ajantha Mendis contributed with three wickets as Sri Lanka demolished Zimbabwe by 130 runs in the second match of the Grameenphone tri-nation tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur

It was a match to remember for the mystery spinner as he became the fastest bowler to take 50 one-day international wickets achieving the milestone in just 19 matches.

The 23-year-old Sri Lanka Army officer, who already hogged the spotlight in international cricket with his 'carrom ball' to flummox the batsmen, had Ray Price stumped by Kumar Sangakkara to beat Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar's record in 23 games.

"We are quite happy and no doubt it's a good achievement. Ajantha is something special and we definitely celebrate his success," said an excited Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who also reached a milestone as he took two catches yesterday to secure most one-day catches (156) as a fielder. Jayawardene achieved it in 289 matches while former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has same number of catches to his belt in 334 games.

Fastest to 50 wickets - Cricinfo

Ajantha Mendis, Kulasekara crush Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Tri-Series, 2nd match, Mirpur

Nuwan Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis executed the perfect demolition job to not only complete the win against Zimbabwe in the second match of the Tri-Nation Tournament in Bangladesh, but also ensure a bonus point. In the process, Mendis became the fastest to 50 ODI wickets when he had Ray Price stumped by Kumar Sangakkara, as Zimbabwe surrendered tamely during their chase.

Kulasekara was on fire right from the start as Sri Lanka looked to defend the 210 they put up earlier in the day on a difficult pitch. The Zimbabwe openers lasted just six overs - Kulasekara castling Vusi Sibanda for 6 and then trapping Hamilton Masakadza leg before in the next over.

Tatenda Taibu may have been dropped by captain Mahela Jayawardene off Thilan Thushara, but his luck lasted only a little while more as he played on to a Kulasekara in-cutter the next over. Thushara was rewarded though, sneaking through Sean Williams' defences as Zimbabwe were left reeling at 47 for 4 in the 17th over.

Jayawardene then unleashed spin at one end and Mendis, predictably, struck in his first over bowling Stuart Matsikenyeri. Matsikenyeri's 15 was to be the highest score in a dismal-looking scorecard, as captain Prosper Utseya and Keith Dabengwa exited in a hurry as well. Dabengwa was caught by Jayawardene, who drew level with Mohammad Azharuddin for the most number catches as a fielder, with 156.

Price was completely outfoxed by Mendis when he charged out, as the bowler, in his 19th match, broke Ajit Agarkar's record of 50 ODI wickets in 23 games.

A fine display from Ed Rainsford and a disciplined performance from the spinners earlier in the day had helped Zimbabwe restrict Sri Lanka to 210. Rainsford struck thrice to cripple Sri Lanka's top order, while Utseya and Ray Price tightened the noose by checking the run-flow in the middle overs.

After being put in by Zimbabwe under hazy conditions, the Sri Lankan openers made a solid start. Sanath Jayasuriya signalled his intent with two fours off Rainsford in the first over.

The run-rate never dipped below five as the partnership neared fifty, but having lifted Elton Chigumbura for a six over long-on the previous ball, Jayasuriya fell chasing a wide delivery, caught by Masakadza at first slip.

Zimbabwe took their second Powerplay as Rainsford came back for a second spell and struck immediately, trapping Sangakkara leg before. Jayawardene's miserable run against Zimbabwe continued as he was dismissed in Rainsford's next over, caught behind for a duck by Taibu off a thickish outside edge. Rainsford continued strongly, and when Chamara Kapugedera was caught plumb in front, Sri Lanka had slipped to 89 for 4.

Tharanga moved steadily towards his half-century, but another bowling change in the 21st over, with Utseya bringing himself on, did the trick, as he trapped Tharanga lbw for 42.

Price was then brought on as Zimbabwe switched to spin at both ends, looking to make further inroads. However, Jehan Mubarak and Mathews battled bravely to get Sri Lanka back in the game. They were slow, aiming primarily to consolidate. Their fifty stand took 14 overs but was brought up in emphatic fashion, Mathews hitting Tawanda Mupariwa for a six straight down the ground.

But having taken the third Powerplay in the 42nd over, Mubarak took his chances against Price and ended up holing out to Williams at mid-on, bringing an end to the sixth-wicket partnership of 69. Thushara hit two sixes in a Dabengwa over but Sri Lanka could manage just 22 runs in the Powerplay. Mathews brought up his fifty in the 49th over, and his workmanlike innings ensured Sri Lanka at least had a reasonable total to defend.

Zimbabwe can still make the finals, unless Bangladesh manage a major upset against Sri Lanka in the final match of the tri-series on Wednesday.

Ajantha Mendis, among the best cricketers of 2008

Ajantha Mendis has been nominated as one of the top players for the 2008 cricinfo awards.

Among the nominees for the best performance are players Sachin Tendulkar, Graeme Smith, James Anderson, Harbhajan Singh, Andrew Flintoff etc,

Ajantha Mendis’s name was nominated as he displayed magnificent performance in the final match against India in the Asian Cup.

The jury consisting of Ian Chapel, Tony Greig, David Loid, Ramiz Raja and 11 other persons will announce the winners according to their performance next week.

The Cricinfo awards were introduced in the year 2007 and Sri Lankan batsman and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara and Zaheer Khan won the awards for the best batsman and for the best bowling in test cricket while Adam Gilchrist and Lasith Malinga were awarded for the best one day performance.

Mendis spins magic to rout Bangladesh

SPIN sensation Ajantha Mendis picked up three wickets as Sri Lanka closed in on an emphatic win over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the second and final Test in Chittagong yesterday.

Mendis took 3-23 off 10 overs as the host struggled to 62-5 at tea in its second innings after being set a massive 624 to win the match and level the series.

The home side, which made 208 in its first innings, lost its openers with just 22 on the scoreboard.

Mendis triggered the slide when he removed Imrul Kayes (5) in his first over, caught at first slip by skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

Veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas removed Kayes's opening partner Tamim Iqbal (17), having him caught behind, before Mendis returned to dismiss Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful.

Siddique was trapped leg before wicket while Ashraful edged to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene after failing to read a googly from the unorthodox spinner.

Raqibul Hasan saw his middle stump uprooted by a reverse-swinging ball from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando and Bangladesh slipped to a precarious 5-52.

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan notched his second century of the match.

Dilshan, 32, hit 14 fours and a six in his sparkling innings of 143 off 175 balls to steer the visiting side to a declaration at 6-447 in its second innings.

Dilshan, who top-scored with 162 in Sri Lanka's first-innings 384, became the fourth Sri Lankan to score two hundreds in a match after Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha and Aravinda de Silva.