Remembering the spin legend: Herath’s top 3 bowling spells

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. The Sri Lankan cricketer will end his career as the most successful left-arm spinner in Test cricket as he has 430 Test wickets to his name. As the spin legend bids adieu to Test cricket we relive the best of his spin magic.

Rangana Herath has announced that he will retire after the 1st Test at Galle against England.

? Most succesful left arm slow bowler in history.
? 430 wickets & counting in Tests.
? No. 10 on the all time leading wicket takers list.
Sri Lanka & world of cricket will miss him! pic.twitter.com/6wz7jNZmQe

— Ahmer Najeeb (@AhmerNajeeb) October 22, 2018

3. Herath leads Sri Lanka to first Test win in South Africa: 

South Africa was an unconquered territory for Sri Lanka but in 2011, Rangana Herath decided to create history. In the second Test played at Durban, the left-arm spinner claimed a five-fer in the second innings to end South Africa’s second innings on 241 runs.

The highlight of this spell was Herath sending back the legendary batsman Jacques Kallis for a duck and not to forget that the spinner had already claimed four wickets in the first innings.

Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will retire after the first Test against England in Galle next month: https://t.co/ykE7NGvwGl #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/4lvoRNLR79

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 22, 2018

2 . Herath stuns Pakistan in 2017:

After scoring 422 runs in the first innings, Pakistan were set a target of mere 146 runs to win the first Test against Sri Lanka in 2017. The pitch of Abu Dhabhi wasn’t alien to Pakistan as in the recent times it had become their home for Tests and hence the target seemed to be nothing more than a cakewalk.

But then Rangana Herath happened.

Pakistan batted for 48 overs in the second innings and the spinner bowled 22 of those overs. The spinner claimed six wickets giving away just 43 runs and by the time Herath’s assault was over, Pakistan fell 21 runs short of the target.

SLC wishes to inform that Mr. Rangana Herath following a discussion he had with the SLC CEO and the selectors, notified his retirement from test cricket, after the 1st test match, in Galle against England. #ThankYouHerath https://t.co/4V6f6LjTpp pic.twitter.com/Cu12JQXZrv

— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) October 22, 2018

1. Herath snatches victory from India’s jaws:

India gained a lead of 192 runs in the first innings and had a paltry target of 176 runs in the second innings against Sri Lanka in the first Test in 2015.

Also read: England batsman ruled out of Sri Lanka series due to injury

India finished day three with 23 runs on the board and one wicket down. It was India’s Test to win but on the fourth morning of the Test, the maverick Herath ran through India’s batting line up and delivered a famous win for his nation.

He reduced India’s batting order to a pulp by their neutralising their front line batsmen KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. The spinner finished with seven wickets and India were left wondering how did they let the match slip away from such dominating position.