Published: Sep 07, 2015, 09:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2015, 11:41 PM (IST)
An innings of clinically planned attack, dubbed “world class” by a Test-playing opposition bowler, displayed what Sri Lanka will miss in the departure of Kumar Sangakkara. The retired middle-order stalwart crafted 166, the highest score in the ongoing Royal London One-Day Cup, paced his innings nicely, and eventually departed in the final over, after shaping as the backbone of Surrey’s batting endeavour against Nottinghamshire. Contributions by Gary Wilson and Ben Foakes helped him stitch useful partnerships, as they ended their 50 overs at 300 for 5. After a calm but fruitful phase of building, Sangakkara plundered 149 runs in 18.5 overs alongside wicketkeeper Wilson, before departing via an unsuccessful scoop shot to fall three short of his highest List-A score. VIDEO: Kumar Sangakkara scores 166 against Nottinghamshire
Superb Sangakkara innings crowns Surrey’s innings. Notts will require 301. Match action: pic.twitter.com/3V35cGVTmK
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 7, 2015
Notts need 301 to beat Surrey and reach #RLODC final after 138-ball 166 from Kumar Sangakkara http://t.co/JOjbk6khob pic.twitter.com/gxBuBctv35
— The ECB (@ECB_cricket) September 7, 2015
Surrey lost their first wicket in the third over, when Steven Davies was caught behind off seamer Harry Gurney. Sangakkara, then, joined Foakes in the middle and stitched a staid partnership. In the 32nd over, Rory Burns got out to an attempted attack after scoring 23 from 30 deliveries that featured three fours. The dipping un-rate lifted, however, when Sangakkara and Wilson combined to plunder the bowling. In 18 overs, the two scored 149 runs, at 8.27 per over, with Wilson contributing three fours. READ: Kumar Sangakkara’s Twitter account hacked: Reactions
What a knock, 166(138) Well Played, Sangakkara!
— Nikhil Popat (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 7, 2015
Sangakkara led the belligerence, with nine fours and a six hit in this period, complete with ramps, scoops, flicks and pulls. His hitting was at a crescendo when he got out, as the penultimate over of the innings had him scooping to the leg and smashing through covers to get three consecutive fours in the over.
Till the 40th over, Sangakkara had a strike-rate of below 100. He started to scamper runs, and finding boundaries with more urgency thereafter, to life his eventual strike-rate to 120.28. The smartness with which he constructed his innings was praised by Stuart Broad: “He [Sangakkara] took his time to get the pace of the wicket,” and “It was a world-class innings from Sanga. He is a world-class player. Great that players like that come and play county cricket.” It pretty much sums up the eminence of the Sri Lankan, who retired from Tests (and thereby, from international cricket altogether) in the series against India at home last month. READ: Kumar Sangakkara’s replacement will be difficult to get: Angelo Mathews
