Malinda Pushpakumara becomes fourth Sri Lankan to 1,000 first-class wickets
January 19, 2026 02:00 pm
Former Test cricketer Malinda Pushpakumara has become the fourth Sri Lankan cricketer to the 1,000-wicket mark in first-class cricket.
Pushpakumara achieved the milestone while playing for the Moors Sports Club against Badureliya Sports Club at the Colts Cricket Club Ground.
Malinda Pushpakumara went into the match at the Colts Cricket Club Ground with 998 wickets under his belt.
Badureliya Sports Club captain Geeth Kumara won the toss, opted to bat, and scored 185 to help his side post 486 as Chanuka Dilshan returned 5-81.
Moors Sports Club finished the second day on 159-4. Having dismissed wicketkeeper Sohan de Livera, Pushpakumara had moved on to 999. On the third morning, he bowled Pasindu Sooriyabandara to become the 218th bowler and fourth Sri Lankan, after Muttiah Muralidaran (1,374), Rangana Herath (1,080), and Dinuka Hettiarachchi (1,001), to reach the 1,000-wicket milestone.
Pushpakumara also holds the best first-class figures (10/37) on Sri Lankan soil when in 2018/19, he became the second bowler (after Pramodya Wickramasinghe) to take all ten wickets in an innings.
- Agencies
