SL vs Ire: Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya becomes fastest to reach 50 Test scalps

Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya became the fastest spinner to reach 50 Test wickets when he removed Ireland batter Paul Stirling early on the fifth and final day of the second Test in Galle.

West Indies left-arm orthodox Alf Valentine held the record from eight Tests but Jayasuriya claimed the record in his seventh game.

He joins former English seamer Tom Richardson and South African fast bowler Vernon Philander as the second joint fastest to among all bowlers.

Australian fast bowler Charlie Turner holds the record, reaching the milestone in just six games.

Jayasuriya took 10 for 108 in the in Sri Lanka thumping innings and 280-run win in the first and added 5 for 174 in the first innings of the second Test.

With two wickets needed, he dismissed opener Peter Moor early in the second innings to move to 49 wickets before claiming the wicket of Stirling to achieve the milestone.

Jayasuriya made an instant impact in his belated debut at the age of 30, taking six wickets in each innings of the Test against Australia in July 2022 to finish with the fourth best match figures on Test debut of 12 for 177.

Jayasuriya has already taken five wickets in an innings six times, and 10 wickets in a match twice, but if he continues to perform at a similar level can eye off the record for the fastest bowler to 100 wickets.

The record is currently held by England quick George Lohmann who achieved the feat in his 16th Test in 1896.