Yesterday, after scoring 124 against Scotland, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to score four consecutive centuries in ODIs.
The 37-year-old former captain played a handy knock in his team’s victory over their European rivals.
Playing at Hobart, Sri Lanka went on to score 363-9 and dismissed Scotland for 215 in the process winning the match by 148 runs.
Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to score four consecutive ODI centuries
During the match, Sangakkara also achieved his 500th dismissal in one-day internationals.
Sri Lanka and cricket fans around the world alike are wondering whether this is the right time for the southpaw to quit cricket. The batsman/wicket keeper had spoken about retiring from all forms of cricket late in 2014.
News about current Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews going down on his knees to beg the prolific batsman to not retire after the World Cup was also making the rounds.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews with Kumar Sangakkara
Sangakkara felt humbled at the gesture and the wishes that came from around the world from cricketing fans. He, however, said that he had no plans to reconsider his decision of quitting the game.
In his defence, he also said, “I’ve been batting and keeping for a long time, it’s getting harder and the joints are creaking and aching, but I consider myself lucky to be part of a great team”.
Overall, the Sri Lankan batsman has scored five centuries in World Cup, only one century behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar.
When asked about records, Sangakkara said, “Records do matter, I think. I would love to say records never enter my mind, but they do. There are certain things that you chase – you try to keep those goals. They are not the only things you chase, but as long as you do the right things those things will fall into place and come along”.
Sangakkara is also the second-highest run getter in one-day cricket (14,189). Only Sachin Tendulkar is ahead of him with 18, 426 runs.
Highlights of Kumar Sangakkara’s ODI career
If anyone were to take a poll as to whether Sangakkara should retire from the game at this moment, many cricketers would vote for “No”.
“Quit while you are ahead”, goes a popular English idiom. Kumar Sangakkara seems to be taking this seriously.
Sri Lanka are at second position in Pool A and have made it to the quarter-finals; their opponent is yet to be decided.
