5 knocks that tell us why Sangakkara is modern day legend

It's startling at times to see Kumar Sangakkara's hunger for runs. Ten 200-plus scores and a staggering average of 57.59 show us that Sangakkara has loved playing long innings. Here are a few of those innings that made him what he is today

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5 knocks that tell us why Sangakkara is modern day legend
All retiring greats don't have a fairytale end to their career and Sangakkara was no different. (Reuters Photo)

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan batting legend played his last Test innings on Sunday at P Sara Oval in Colombo. He played few trademark shots of his before falling to R Ashwin for 18. All retiring greats don't have a fairytale end to their career and Sangakkara was no different.

However, when his one-day career was drawing to a close, he made the most of it by scoring four centuries and 541 runs.

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Also read: Full farewell speech of Kumar Sangakkara

There is one thing with legends that never dies, expectation. Sangakkara has shouldered the burden of Sri Lanka's batting for 15 years and on most occasions, he has lived up to the expectation.

It's startling at times to see Sangakkara's hunger for runs. Ten 200-plus scores and a staggering average of 57.59 show us that Sangakkara has loved playing long innings. Here are a few of those innings that made him what he is today.

319 vs Bangladesh in Chittagong

Sri Lanka, on a typical subcontinental track at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, won the toss and opted to bat. Having won the first Test, the Lankans were all set to whitewash the hosts. The visitors started slowly, but lost Kaushal Silva early in the innings. And in walked Sangakkara at No. 3. The left-hander started slowly, took some time to get into the groove. Sanga started toying with the bowlers and brought up his first hundred in 146 balls, second in the next 150 balls. From 284 it was four, six and one more huge one over mid-on off Shakib Al Hasan. Sangakkara looked unstoppable, with his elegant footwork against Bangladesh spinners and dominant display against fast bowlers.

Sri Lanka, after a fighting response from the hosts, could only manage to draw the second Test, thereby winning the two Test series 1-0.


203 vs New Zealand in Wellington


It's a delight to see Sangakkara punish bowlers through the cover region. When on song, no one plays the cover drive better than Sangakkara. At Basin reserve, in 2015, Sangakkara treated his fans with an array of Sanga-special drives. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka, led by their bowlers Dhammika Prasad, Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep bowled the hosts out for 229. In reply, Sri Lanka lost their top order batsmen cheaply. Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal combined and steered the visitors out of danger.

The left-hander was severe against the Kiwi pace attack. The knock was a preview of what was to come in the 2015 World Cup. Sangakkara looked like he was playing on a different track in Wellington. He batted with the tail and eventually got his 11th double century, helping his team secure a first innings lead of 113, which looked impossible before he walked in. But, the visitors lost the Test match after a brilliant display of batting and bowling from New Zealand in the second innings.


287 vs South Africa in Colombo

Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene often scored heavily in pairs. They combined again against South Africa at the SSC, and this time they looked unbeatable. A record breaking 624-run partnership between the two took Sri Lanka to a position of strength. Sangakkara scored 287 of those runs in his trademark style, cutting elegantly and driving with little effort. An attack consisting Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Nicky Boje and Makhaya Nitni were dismantled by the dashing Sri Lankan duo.

Sri Lanka went on to win the match by an innings and 153 runs.



192 vs Australia in Hobart

Sangakkara had often stood alone and fought oppositions single-handedly. In Hobart, the Lankans were tested. After conceding 542 runs in the first innings, the Lankans were bundled out for 246 in their first. Sangakkara (57) and Jayawardene (104) fought hard to bring the deficit down. In the second innings, chasing a mammoth 502, Sri Lanka started well. But their middle-order succumbed to the Australian pace attack of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson. But Sangakkara stood there unconquered, showing the world why he was among the best in the game. 192 runs with 27 boundaries and a six were not enough for his team.

230 vs Pakistan in Lahore

Sangakkara once again stole the limelight in the final of the Asian Test championship in Lahore. His 230 in the first innings won him the player of the match award, and the title for his country. His drives outclassed the Pakistani pace attack of Waqar Younis, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. Sangakkara's willingness to stay at the crease for long hours was evident and ten more double centuries followed in the next 12 years of his cricket career.