Vettori joins elite all-rounders club

Sri Lanka 262-3 New Zealand

The New Zealander Daniel Vettori claimed his 300th Test victim here in Colombo yesterday against Sri Lanka to become only the eighth player in history to achieve the 300 wickets-3000 runs double.

The left-arm off spinner becomes the second player from New Zealand after Richard Hadlee to achieve the double and he joins a list that includes the likes of England's Sir Ian Botham, India's Kapil Dev and Australia's Shane Warne.

Vettori, who shouldered the bulk of the bowling, gave the visitors a bright start in the morning by dismissing opener Tharanga Paranavitana in his first over. Paranavitana, who had scores of zero and five in the first Test in Galle, began with two edged boundaries off Chris Martin, but fell for 19 when Vettori brought himself on. Vettori struck with his second delivery, getting Paranavitana to push at one that drifted in slightly. Ross Taylor at slip held the edge nicely.

Kumar Sangakkara attempted to take the fight to the bowlers and made a fifty before sweeping Vettori straight to Oram at deep mid-wicket to help the off spinner achieve his milestone.

Sangakkara's dismissal left Sri Lanka at a precarious 135 for 3, but it also brought Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera together who both made unbeaten half-centuries in an unbroken 147-run stand to lead the team to 262 for 3 at stumps.

Super eight: Best Test all-rounders

The 300 Test wickets and 3,000 runs club:

Runs/Wickets

Kapil Dev (India) 5,248/434

Richard Hadlee (NZ) 3,124/431

Ian Botham (Eng) 5,200/383

Imran Khan (Pak) 3,807/362

Shane Warne (Aus) 3,154/708

Chaminda Vaas (SL) 3,089/355

Shaun Pollock (SA) 3,781/421

Daniel Vettori (NZ) 3,329/300