Malinga topples Afridi record with Shakib eyeing summit

Sri Lanka’s veteran paceman Lasith Malinga overtook Shahid Afridi to become the highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket during the match against New Zealand in Pallekelle.

Malinga equalled Afridi’s record of 98 wickets with a trademark in-swinging yorker to bowl the dangerous Kiwi opener Colin Munro in the first over of New Zealand’s innings. He later took the crucial wicket of in-form Colin de Grandhomme, who was well set and batting on 44, with another stunning yorker to reach 99 wickets and become the highest T20I wicket-taker.

Despite the Sri Lanka ace pacer’s best efforts, Kiwis won the game by 5 wickets. Malinga now has 99 wickets in 74 matches and Afridi has 98 from 99 games.

Bangladesh T20 skipper Shakib Al Hasan is third in the all-time list of wicket takers with 88 wickets from 72 matches. Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is sixth on the list with 75 wickets and has the potential to catch Malinga and Shakib very soon. Former Pakistan players Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal, who both have 85 wickets are fourth and fifth on the all-time list.

Malinga, who played his final ODI in July and retired from Test cricket in 2011, is expected to call quits on his T20I career after the World Cup next year.