Top 10 innings of the legendary Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara is one of the few players whose name will be etched in the memories of every cricket fan. Whenever a perfect cover drive will be the topic of discussion, his name will surely come up. His way of bending on one knee and caressing the ball through the covers will be dearly missed. As this true legend is about to retire, EssentiallySports brings you the top 10 innings played by the man himself.

10) 199 vs Pakistan at Galle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OvOB0DO-aY

Nobody is as unlucky as this man. To be left stranded on 199 because the team got all out is very saddening. It was the 1st test at Galle and the hosts were batting first. They got off to a good start but after Jayawardene got out, wickets started tumbling quickly and Sangakkara kept seeing it from the non-striker’s end but held his end firmly. Soon he was batting with the tail and had to keep most of the strike with himself. While batting with Pradeep, the last batsman, he was on 199 but couldn’t take the single of the last ball which meant Pradeep would be on strike for the next over. Pakistan capitalized and took Pradeep’s wicket and Sangakkara was left disappointed at 199.

9) 319 against Bangladesh at Chittagong stadium

This is Sangakkara’s one triple century which came against Bangladesh, a relatively weaker side but as it is his highest score, it is on the list. The visitors chose to bat first and soon were 49 for 2. After that, Jayawardene and Sangakkara stitched together a much important partnership which took Sri Lanka out of danger. Sangakkara continued and scored a brilliant triple century, only the third Sri Lankan to do it. His innings consisted of 32 fours and 8 massive sixes and those delightful cover drives were also on display. Though the match ended in a dull draw, it will always be remembered because of him.

8) 147 vs England at Lords

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCuOWUYn8zY

Sangakkara yet again stood up for the team and scored a fighting 147 in swinging conditions at Lord’s. He came into bat when Sri Lanka were 54 for 1 and were trailing by a huge 521 runs. Need of the hour was a big innings from him which he played and that too in tough swinging conditions. He also followed his 1st innings score with a modest 61 in the second innings to help Sri Lanka draw the Test match.

7) 232 vs South Africa at Colombo

Atapattu decided to bat against the mighty proteas. South African bowling line-up boasted of bowlers like Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Nicky Boje, and Jacques Kallis. Although Marvin fell early, this young star again came to their rescue. He scored 232 runs which included 31 fours and 1 six. Sri Lanka reached 470 and bowled out South Africa for a mere 189. His quick fire 64 in the second innings meant that South Africa required an impossible 493. Sri Lanka won the match comfortably bowling them out for just 179.

6) 287 vs South Africa at Colombo

It was the year 2006 when the cricketing world witnessed the geniuses of the two stalwarts of Sri Lankan cricket – Jayawardene and Sangakkara. South Africa were put into bat by Jayawardene and were bundled out for just 169. Dale Steyn got two quick wickets and Sri Lanka were struggling at 14 for 2 when these two got together. Jayawardene played a marathon innings of 374 while Sanga scored 287. The pair added a monumental 624 runs as Sri Lanka scored 756 for five declared. Jacques Rudolph, Andrew Hall, Ashwell Prince, and Mark Boucher fought hard, but Murali took six for 131 as Sri Lanka won by an innings and 153 runs.

5) 169 vs South Africa at Colombo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl56Fokybq0

Sri Lanka were put into bat in the first match of the five-match ODI series between the two countries. Sri Lanka suffered an early blow in the form of Dilshan when Sangakkara came into bat. He slowly brought Sri Lanka out of trouble and then started toying with the bowlers. Balls were sent out of the ground on a regular basis and Sangakkara was just playing an innings which was opposite of his usual style. His last 103 runs came of just 46 balls. Sangakkara got out on 169 and Sri Lanka reached 320. Later, Sri Lanka won the match by 180 runs.

4) 52 vs India at Mirpur

It was the final of the T20 World Cup in 2014. Having lost the ODI World Cup final in 2011, and after having reached the finals of so many ICC tournaments before, Sri Lankans wanted to win this dearly and that’s where Sangakkara stepped up. Chasing 130 to lift the trophy, courtesy Ashwin, Raina and Mohit Sri Lanka were struggling at 78 for 4 and India refused to give in. But Sangakkara’s steady 52 off 35 balls took the Lankans over the line and gave them their first ever T20 title.

3) 90 vs India at Rajkot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ1da6Fmbj4

It was the first ODI of the series between them and boy-oh-boy, what a match it was. It was a high-scoring game. The hosts batting first scored a mammoth 414 thanks to Sehwag’s 146. Sri Lanka in reply were going strongly. Tharanga (67) and Dilshan (160) added 188 in 24 overs to lay an ideal platform before Sangakkara came to the middle. His innings almost sealed the game for Sri Lanka, as he hit a frenetic 43-ball 90 with 10 fours and five sixes. When he fell, the visitors were 316 for two in the 37th over. Sadly for Sri Lanka, they soon lost their way and Sangakkara’s genius was thwarted as India triumphed by a tiny three-run margin.

2) 211 vs Pakistan at Abu Dhabi

Misbah-Ul-Haq put Sri Lanka to bat in the first test. Junaid Khan destroyed Sri Lankan batting as he took 5 for 38 and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 197. Taufeeq Umar’s 236 took Pakistan to a massive 511. Sri Lanka were now in dire need of something special from someone, and who better than the man himself, Sangakkara. He scored 211 of 431 balls with just 18 fours as Lankans reached 483. With 170 runs required for victory, Pakistan could only reach 21 as the match ended in a draw.

1) 221 vs Pakistan at Galle

In what was unarguably one of the most thrilling Tests in recent memory, Pakistan won the toss and batted first against Sri Lanka at Galle. Younis Khan slammed 177 while Asad Shafiq (75), Sarfraz Ahmed (55), and Abdur Rehman (50) contributed to help Pakistan to 451. Sri Lanka responded with 533 as Kaushal Silva (64), Jayawardene (59), and Mathews (91) supported Sangakkara. It was Jayawardene’s penultimate match, and his mate Sangakkara paid him the perfect tribute: 221 serene runs off 425 balls. Rangana Herath then worked his magic, taking 6 for 48 as Pakistan crashed to 180. With 99 to win in fading light and bad weather, Sangakkara’s 22-ball 21 hastened the Sri Lankan innings, though the finishing touches were added by Mathews as Sri Lanka won by seven wickets mere moments before rain would have ended the game anyway.