Birthday special: Kumar Sangakkara – His Top 3 knocks in int’l cricket
Former Sri Lankan captain and cricketer Kumar Sangakkara is one of the game’s titans, having amassed over 28000 international runs across formats. The elegant southpaw was one of the most indomitable figures in the Sri Lankan team, which boasted several world-class players. While Sangakkara was prolific with the bat in Test cricket, averaging an astonishing 57.40 with 38 centuries to his name, his record of four consecutive ODI centuries is a feat that will take some beating. On the occasion of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest-ever cricketers’ 46th birthday, we list some of his most memorable knocks for the islanders during a glittering career.
52* against India, 2014
Kumar Sangakkara has scored several centuries and double-centuries in the longer formats of the game, but probably his most memorable innings came in the shortest format of the game when Sri Linka took on India in the 2014 T20 World Cup Final. Chasing a modest total on a tricky surface at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Sri Lanka was in a spot of bother after losing their top three batters without significant contributions. On a pitch that was not suited for stroke-making, Sangakkara compiled a brisk unbeaten half-century to guide his side to their first-ever T20 World Cup title. He was awarded the player of the match trophy for his heroics with the bat.
169 against South Africa, 2013
Colombo hosted the first ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2013. The visitors, led by AB de Villiers, took to the field after winning the toss. Sri Lanka’s aggressive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed for a cheap score before Kumar Sangakkara took it upon himself to slay the Proteas’ bowling attack. The southpaw scored a scintillating 169 off just 137 deliveries to propel their score to a competitive 320 runs after their 50 overs. South Africa, in reply, surrendered meekly for just 140 runs, handing Sri Lanka a comfortable victory. Sangakkara was named the player of the match for his masterful ton.
319 against Bangladesh, 2014
Sri Lanka travelled to Chittagong for the second Test match against Bangladesh in 2014. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting paradise at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The islanders suffered an early setback after both the openers were dismissed cheaply. That is when Kumar Sangakkara stood in the way of the hosts with an innings of a lifetime. The elegant southpaw compiled his career-best innings of 319 runs. His innings took Sri Lanka to a handsome total of 587 runs in their first innings. He returned in the second innings to compile a fluent century as the match fizzled out in a draw.
