Cricket: Just Fleming's day, says gobsmacked star

Muttiah Muralitharan, who had a bad day with both bat and ball, is bowled by Daniel Vettori. Picture / Fotopress

A stunned Muttiah Muralitharan was still smiling after receiving the biggest hiding of his glittering cricket career at the hands of Stephen Fleming.

In a scarcely believable hour, the New Zealand captain lofted the former world test wicket recordholder into the stands seven times in his 106 off 57 balls to beat the World XI at Jade Stadium on Saturday.

Sri Lankan Muralitharan, second only to World XI captain Shane Warne on the test wicket list with 532 victims from 91 tests, went for 57 runs off 3.1 overs.

"I don't think that's happened to him in his life, even when he was about 12," Warne said afterwards. "In 15 years of playing international or first-class cricket, I don't think I've seen anyone hit the ball like that."

Muralitharan shuffled into Wellington Airport for today's second match still smiling, but nursing a sore shoulder after just his second match back from a six-month layoff due to shoulder surgery. "It was his day," he said.

For Fleming, it continued a useful recent run against the world's most feared spin bowler, after his epic 274 not out in Colombo in April 2003.

However, said Fleming: "He'll have his day again, he's too good a bowler."

- NZPA