Prabath Jayasuriya becomes the joint second-fastest to 100 Test wickets

Prabath Jayasuriya became the second-fastest bowler ever and the fastest Sri Lankan to get to 100 Test wickets after he dismissed Tony de Zorzi during South Africa’s second innings in the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Durban. 

His 100th wicket came in just 17 matches, as he equalled the record of Sydney Barnes, Clarence Grimmett, Yasir Shah and Charles Turner, who reached the milestone in the same number of games. 

England’s George Alfred Lohmann holds the record for being the quickest to 100 Test wickets, as he completed the century of wickets in just 16 games. 

Jayasuriya, who took 2/24 in South Africa’s first innings earlier in the day, was the only sign of respite for the visitors in the second innings after they dismissed for a record-low total of 42 — their lowest ever in Test history.  

He reached the 99-wicket mark in the first innings itself after he got Gerald Coetzee caught by Kamindu Mendis in the field, and with South Africa seven down, he had the opportunity to reach the milestone in that innings itself. However, Asith and Vishwa Fernando did the remaining cleanup work. 

Sri Lanka’s joy was short-lived, as they could survive only 13.5 overs with the bat and were bowled out for 42. As a result, Jayasuriya got the chance to accomplish the milestone on Day 2 of the first test itself, and he did that by making de Zorzi hit a shot straight down deep backward square leg’s throat. 

When writing this report, South Africa lead by 217 runs in the game and have nine wickets remaining in their second innings. 

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