Murali returned the figures of 10 for 83 in the Test.
Stats: Another 10-wicket haul for Murali
Admirably Murali had to send down only 25.3 overs to capture 10 wickets that is a wicket off every 15.30 balls at an average.
Murali's strike rate is the seventh best for a spinner in a Test and best ever for a Sri Lankan bowler (minimum qualification - 10 wickets in the match).
The following table lists the best strike-rates for spinners in a Test:
| SR | Wkts | Balls | Runs | Bowler | For | Vs | Venue | Season |
| 9.00 | 15 | 135 | 28 | J Briggs | Eng | SAf | Cape Town | 1888-89 |
| 10.40 | 10 | 104 | 49 | FE Woolley | Eng | Aus | The Oval | 1912 |
| 12.13 | 15 | 182 | 124 | W Rhodes | Eng | Aus | Melbourne | 1903-04 |
| 12.45 | 11 | 137 | 24 | H Ironmonger | Aus | SAf | Melbourne | 1931-32 |
| 12.69 | 16 | 203 | 136 | ND Hirwani | Ind | WI | Madras | 1987-88 |
| 14.00 | 12 | 168 | 94 | Danish Kaneria | Pak | Ban | Multan | 2001-02 |
| 15.30 | 10 | 153 | 83 | M Muralitharan | SL | WI | Kandy | 2005 |
| 15.40 | 15 | 231 | 99 | C Blythe | Eng | SAf | Leeds | 1907 |
| 15.45 | 11 | 170 | 68 | R Peel | Eng | Aus | Manchester | 1888 |
| 15.54 | 13 | 202 | 77 | MA Noble | Aus | Eng | Melbourne | 1901-02 |