Lasith Malinga Announces ODI Retirement: ICC Recalls Magic Four Deliveries That Etched Sri Lanka Pacer in World Cup Record Books

Lasith Malinga announced his ODI retirement. The Sri Lanka great on Monday revealed that he will bid adieu to a 15-year long ODI career following the conclusion of the 1^st ODI game against Bangladesh in Colombo. Sri Lanka play Bangladesh in a three ODI series starting August 26. Tributes soon flowing, as soon Malinga announced his decision to quit ODI cricket, with International Cricket Council (ICC) also paying their homage to an ‘ODI great.’

“Its official,” said cricket’s parent body while confirming Malinga’s ODI retirement news. The 35-year-old fast bowler announced his decision on a short video clip on Facebook before Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne confirmed the news in a press conference. Malinga will play his final ODI game at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Lasith Malinga Announces ODI Retirement; Netizens Pay Tribute to Famed Sri Lankan Pacer.

Lasith Malinga Calls Its Quits

ICC also recalled Slinga-Malinga’s memorable spell in the 2007 edition of the World Cup when he took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries in a super-eight game against South Africa. Malinga, till date is the only bowler to take four wickets in four balls in a World Cup game.

ICC Recalls Those Four Magic Deliveries That Made Malinga

Malinga had dismissed Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini in four consecutive deliveries to register this incredible record at the World Cup. Sri Lanka had first registered 209 runs on board after opting to bat first. Charles Langeveldt took a five-fer. Then chasing, South Africa were cruising towards a victory with Kallis anchoring the chase.

The Proteas needed four runs to win with Kallis and Pollock at the crease when Malinga came-in to bowl the 45^th over. He first cleaned-up Pollock with a brilliant slower ball in the fifth delivery before having Hall caught at cover with a brilliant Yorker in the final delivery of the over. Malinga then returned in the 47^th over and removed Kallis in the very first delivery to complete his hat-trick before uprooting Ntini's middle-stump with a searing Yorker in the second delivery.

South Africa still went on to win the game eventually but Malinga had achieved an incredible feat and etched his name in the records book of ODI cricket. He represented Sri Lanka in four World Cup tournaments. Malinga played 225 ODIs for Sri Lanka and took 335 wickets putting him third in the list of most ODI wickets for Sri Lanka and 10^th in the overall list.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2019 07:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).