Sri Lanka speedster Lasith Malinga on Sunday re-wrote the record books by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals. The Lankan speed merchant ecplised Pakistan's Shahid Afridi record of 98 wickets by scalping his 99th wicket in the first T20 international against New Zealand at Kandy.

Malinga's heroics with the ball went in vain as New Zealand beat the hosts by 5 wickets in the series opener to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.

Malinga, who bid adieu to Test cricket in 2011 and played his farewell one-day international in July, castled Colin Munro in the first over of the New Zealand chase to equal Afridi’s record of 98 wickets. The 36-year-old then bowled Colin de Grandhomme, for 44, to achieve the record in his 74th T20 match of his illustrious career.

Former Pakistani all-rounder Afridi is followed by Shakib Al Hasan (88 wickets), Umar Gul (85 wickets), Saeed Ajmal (85 wickets), Rashid Khan (75 wickets). New Zealand pacer and stand-in skipper Tim Southee took two wickets in 1st T20I to take his tally to 69 wickets from 59 matches.

Malinga has been hailed as arguably the finest bowler in T20 cricket owing to his ability to take wickets on a regular basis both with the new and old ball. He is regarded as one of the best bowlers at the death and has built a niche of his own courtsey those lethal yorkers he delivers with his slinging action.