Sri Lanka thrashed South Africa by 180 runs in the first one-day international at the R Premedasa International Stadium on Saturday.
Even though the islanders were led by Dinesh Chandimal– who managed to win his first 0DI as a captain –the day belonged to Kumar Sangakkara.
The left-handed batsman smashed his highest one-day score -169 runs- (137 balls). Sangakkara hit 6 sixes and 18 boundaries to lift Sri Lanka to a commanding 320-5 in 50 overs.
His innings was the third best ODI score by a Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya’s 189(169balls)and Upul Tharanga’s 174 not out (159 balls). He also beat his previous best one-day score of 138 not out against India in 2005.
Sangakkara entered the crease when T M Dilshan fell cheaply in the fourth over bowled by Morris. Along with the opener Upul Tharanga(43) he managed to put on 70 for the second wicket partnership.
Later on, in the 20th over Sangakkara paired up with Mahela Jayawardene, after Tharanga left the field bowled by Morne Morkel. Sangakkara completed his 78th ODI fifty in the 29th over. Together with Jayawardene he built an excellent partnership of 74 runs where the veteran pair for the umpteenth time consolidated with classical batsmanship and some innovation.
Unfortunately Jayawardene was caught on 43 by Colin Ingram in the 33rd over by M Morkel which had Lahiru Thirimanne joining the fray. His senior partner Sangakkara who had steadily built his innings,was gearing into sublime touch by then. They went on to make 123 runs (84 balls) in which Thirimanne’s contribution was just 17 runs in 33 balls while the batting citadel hammered 100. Sangakkara completed his 16th ODI century and his second against South Africa in the 41st over notching it up in 103 balls.
The maestro’s penchant for South Africa has been apparent over the years and it is believed it’s his fervor for fast bowling that gives him the edge over the Proteas. Saturday evening at the RPIS he was in his finest form; displaying all the shots in the book, toying with the opposition, moving around the crease while the bowlers were in delivery stride and making them bowl exactly where he wanted. His sixes were crisp clean and each shot came off exactly as planned. The crowd was treated to some sensational hitting and cheeky improvisation at the end; it was like there was nothing he could do wrong. Sangakkara reached his final 90 runs in around 30 deliveries which gives an idea of what type of innings it really would have been. It was not just the mentioned fast bowling and Morkel and Co going at regular 140 plus, the spinners were meant to look totally ‘village green’ as well.
It has already been dubbed his best ODI innings. Even though there have been some fighting and match saving knocks and each day he carries the bulk of Sri Lankan batting responsibilities on his shoulders, this level of bludgeoning Sangakkara has not delivered in the past.
Kumar Sangakkara whose test average of 56.98 is stealthily on his way to carving untouchable greatness has been undone by Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to scrap the planned test matches vs South Africa in place of a money making SLPL which was cancelled in the end. Argument is that this South African bowling attack against the connoisseur of tests would have been a platform for a Sangakkara accumulation of a plethora of a three figure innings.
Back to RPIS, the Sangakkara reign of terror came to an end in the 49th over. His tired attempt for a six was caught by Duminy in the fifth ball. The Sangakkara 169 has become the talk of the town and coined “Colombo Carnage”.
On the back of his innings Sri Lanka’s 320, a target South Africa minus injured Hashim Amla was never expected to get. They perish trying – all out 140.
Kumar Sangakkara- the brightest bulb in the Christmas tree that night- celebrated his 350th ODI by surpassing his career best and earning the Man of the Match award for his brilliant innings with 169 runs off 137 balls, two catches and a stumping. He once again proved that he is the real man of steel.
