Kumar Sangakkara tribute: Top 5 Test knocks

Tags: Kumar Sangakkara, Kumar Sangakkara retirement, Sri Lanka, Test cricket

Published on: Jun 28, 2015

With Kumar Sangakkara announcing his decision to retire during India’s tour of Sri Lanka, we look back at five brilliant Test performances by the legendary batsman during his illustrious career.

With Kumar Sangakkara announcing his decision to retire during India’s tour of Sri Lanka, we look back at five brilliant Test performances by the legendary batsman during his illustrious career.


319: Kumar Sangakkara joined the list of triple centurions when he smashed 319 against Bangladesh at Chittagong in February 2014. Sri Lanka batted first in this game, and made 587, 319 of which came from Sangakkara’s bat. Batting at his customary number three position, the left-hander faced 482 balls and batted for over 550 minutes to score his runs. Sangakkara hit 32 fours and 8 sixes during his stay at the crease before he was finally dismissed by Nasir Hossain. Sangakkara made a hundred in the second innings as well, scoring 105 as the match ended in a high-scoring draw.


287: Batting at one of his favourite venues, Colombo, Sangakkara made 287 in July 2006, while also featuring in that record partnership with Mahela Jayawardene, who smashed 374. Batting first, South Africa were rolled over for merely 169 after which Sri Lanka notched up a mammoth 756 for 5 declared. After losing their openers early, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added an unprecedented 624 runs for the third wicket. Sangakkara smashed 287 in 457 deliveries hitting 35 fours. South Africa showed better resolve in their second innings, but went on to lose by massive margin.


230: Sangakkara again played the stellar role as Sri Lanka won the Asian Test Championship at the Gaddafi Stadium in March 2002. After the bowlers had restricted Pakistan to 234 as the hosts batted first, Sangakkara almost single-handedly helped Sri Lanka overhaul the Pakistan score. He made a masterful 230 in 327 balls with the aid of 33 fours and 3 sixes. Sangakkara batted for nearly 480 minutes as the Lankans posted 528 with half-centuries from Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene. Lanka went on to win the Test by 8 wickets.


203: Although this came in a losing effort, it was a brilliant effort nonetheless by Sangakkara at Wellington in January 2015. Sri Lanka had rolled over New Zealand for 221 bowling first, and then made a potent 356 themselves, more than half of the runs coming from the blade of Sangakkara. The Lankan left-hander faced 306 balls during his knock, hitting 18 fours and 3 sixes to go with it. New Zealand however fought back courtesy a double hundred from Kane Williamson, and won the Test.


192: Again a losing effort, but another valiant knock by the legend. Sri Lanka were chasing an improbable 507 to win against Australia at Hobart in November 2007. They managed to get 410 thanks in main to Sangakkara, who was rock steady at one end. He hit 27 fours and one six in his 282-ball knock before Stuart Clark dismissed him. He was ninth man out for 364, as Sri Lanka went on to lose the Test by 96 runs.


--By A Cricket Analyst

Related News