Pakistan's Wasim Akram opened a new chapter in his glittering story on Monday when he became the first bowler in the history of one-day cricket to smash through the 500-wicket barrier.
The 36-year-old left-armer reached the milestone when he bowled Nick Statham of the Netherlands in his second over in the World Cup Group A clash at Paarl.
PHOTO: AFP
"It is something special to achieve 500, but at the end of the day it matters more that the team achieve some crucial wins in the World Cup," Wasim said.
Playing in his fifth and final World Cup, Wasim reached the landmark in his 354th match -- the next best on the all-time list is his captain Waqar Younis, who has 413 wickets in 259 appearances.
The left armer, playing his fifth and last World Cup, is the only bowler to have taken over 400 wickets in both forms of the game.
The former Pakistan captain acknowledged that the 1992 World Cup final against England was one of the most memorable matches in which he claimed 3-49 and scored 33 off 19 deliveries to secure his team's win.
On the pitch yestrerday, Pakistan's struggling batsmen failed to take full advantage of an easy-paced wicket at Boland Park.
Even so, the Netherlands slumped to 43-4 after 10 overs chasing 254 to beat Pakistan in the World Cup Group A match yesterday.
Yousuf Youhana top-scored with a run-a-ball 58 in Pakistan's total of 253-9. Taufeeq Umar made 48 and Abdul Razzaq 47, but Inzamam-ul-Haq's miserable run continuing when he was lbw to medium-pacer Tim de Leede for a second-ball duck.
-- Umar was run out by bowler Jacob Jan Esmeijer attempting an impossible single.
-- Inzamam, desperately out of form, lasted one ball longer than he did in the last match against England when he was trapped lbw by De Leede. 108-3.
-- Wasim forced Statham to play the ball on to his stumps with a trademark inswinging delivery to reach his milestone.
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