Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ends his illustrious Test career, claiming his 800th Test wicket in his last match against India on Thursday July 22, 2010 at Galle (Sri Lanka).

It was a perfect finish to a long career, spanning 18 years. Murali needed eight wickets in his swansong Test to reach the the landmark figure of 800 and he just about managed it, claiming the last Indian wicket for match figures of eight for 191, and setting up yet another Sri Lankan victory.

The wily off-spinner walked off the Test arena Thursday, leaving behind a marvellous legacy and a haul of wickets not easy to reach for any modern-day bowler. Since Australian Shane Warne quit cricket, Murali was the lone man competing with himself for records.

In 133 matches, he has 800 wickets at an average of 22.72. He has taken 10 wickets in a match an astonishing 22 times and five wickets in an innings 67 times — the most by any bowler. Warne is the second best with 708 wickets in 145 Tests at an average of 25.41.

Murali,38, took five wickets in the first innings here, as India were bowled out for 276.

In the second innings, he needed three wickets to reach the magic figure of 800. After dismissing Yuvraj Singh Wednessday, Murali was quick to remove Harbahajan Singh in the morning, but it was an agonising wait for the last wicket. It looked as if a resolute Indian tail would deny the great bowler his final hurrah.

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