Kumar Sangakkara: Calibrated ascent into the galaxy of greats
Kumar Sangakkara.....class act.
It would seem that the burden of wicketkeeping had an adverse impact on Kumar Sangakkara’s batting in One-day Internationals. For a batsman of his calibre, for someone who had the strokes, temperament and the right attitude, it was a matter of time that his average and strike-rate rose in the World Cup and One-dayers overall. His class is borne out by an average of above 57 in Test matches with 12,400 runs and 38 hundreds under his belt. With his One-day average touching almost 42, and an aggregate above 14,000 runs with a strike-rate of nearly 80, Sangakkara corrected the anomaly. The left-handed stalwart, needless to say, finds a place in the pantheon of the greats.
Sri Lanka began well in the 2003 World Cup with a fine win over New Zealand and two victories over the minnows, with Sangakkara hardly in evidence with the bat, but snapping up a number of catches behind the stumps. Then came that shock defeat at the hands of Kenya at Nairobi, with Sangakkara failing too, dismissed for 5 by man-of-the-match Collins Obuya. Even as Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling six-run win over the West Indies, Sangakkara’s bat failed to dazzle, and the tale continued in the tied game with hosts South Africa. Sri Lanka qualified for the super-sixes.
The rampaging Australians were unstoppable, but Sangakkara attempted to resurrect the innings with a 52-run fifth-wicket stand with the brilliant Aravinda de Silva, after Sanath Jayasuriya had retired hurt from a Brett Lee thunderbolt. Just when Sangakkara was finding form, he was run out for 20.
India too were in the midst of a golden run and they decimated Sri Lanka. After piling up 292 for six, the Indian pacemen had the Lankans on the mat. Sangakkara walked in at 15 for four after 3.4 overs. He tried to fight his way out of trouble, scoring 30 of the 44 runs that came while he was at the crease. He was sixth out, having hit four boundaries. Sri Lanka slumped to 78 for nine, before a rollicking last-wicket stand carried them to 109. It was a humiliating 183-run defeat.
After being singed in the previous two matches, there was respite against Zimbabwe. Sangakkara was striking the ball beautifully, putting on 52 for the fourth wicket with opener Marvan Atapattu in just 6.2 overs. But again, Sangakkara fell when he was promising much. He hit 35 off 25 deliveries with 4 fours. With this easy win Sri Lanka were through to the semi-finals.
It was a tricky St. George’s Park pitch, and Australia were restricted to 212 for seven, with Sangakkara snapping up three catches and effecting a stumping. Sri Lanka were never in the game. Sangakkara came in at 43 for four and kept losing his partners. He was into the only partnership of significance for the eighth wicket with Chaminda Vaas when the rain came down. Sangakkara was unbeaten on 39 in a score of 123 for seven, well behind on the Duckworth-Lewis system. Sri Lanka were out of the tournament even as Sangakkara’s form improved towards the later stages. To be fair, he batted mostly at no. 6, where he was either fighting with his back to the wall or was required to accelerate the scoring-rate. A batsman of his ability needed to bat higher up the order. He did a commendable job behind the sticks, claiming 17 victims.
The 2007 World Cup was a topsy-turvy tournament and performances against a team like Bermuda counted for nothing. Every Sri Lankan batsman got into stride, and Sangakkara put up his highest score hitherto of 76 in the premier event.
Bangladesh had shocked India, but the Sri Lankan batsmen were again on song. Sangakkara, now batting at no. 4, strode in at 137 for one after Jayasuriya twisted his knee and limped off. He put on 65 with Mahela Jayawardene, and 59 with Chamara Silva, before holing out to long-on. Sangakkara scored 56 off 55 balls, putting his team well on the way to a total in excess of 300. It was another big win for Sri Lanka as Sangakkara took three catches.
He would stand up to the stumps regularly while keeping to the pacemen. He explained, “If you’re bowling at under 140 kph, batsmen will take it upon themselves to walk up the track and take it at length. It doesn’t matter so long as you train with that in mind. You’ve got the helmet and you’ve got the pads, so all you need is to hone your skills.”
India desperately needed to win their last Group B match. Sri Lanka scored 254 for six, giving them a fair chance, with Sangakkara falling for 15. But the much-vaunted Indian line-up was not up to the task. The two sub-continental Big Brothers, India and Pakistan, were bundled out of the prestigious tournament after the brief first stage, stunning the cricketing world. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had done all that was asked of them.
Their first super-six fixture was the thriller against South Africa. The Lankans could not build any worthwhile partnership at the top. Sangakkara played himself in and then lost his wicket for 28. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold scored half-centuries to lift the total beyond the 200 mark. After Lasith Malinga had created a flutter with an incredible four wickets off successive balls, the last pair got South Africa home with 10 balls to spare.
After this jolt, Sri Lanka went on to trounce hosts West Indies. Sangakkara, though, now batting at no. 3 fell for just 7.
The game against England was a thriller, with Sri Lanka scraping home by 2 runs off the last delivery. Sangakkara could still not get going, being dismissed for 17.
The Lankans were now irresistible. They restricted New Zealand to 219 for seven. This time the real Sangakkara came to the fore. He put on exactly a hundred for the second wicket with Jayasuriya, and then saw his side home to a comfortable triumph through a series of handy partnerships. It was a polished unbeaten 69 from him spanning 104 deliveries and comprising 3 boundaries.
Now came the big test against the unstoppable Aussies, and Sri Lanka failed for the first time in the tournament. Sangakkara was trapped leg-before by the peerless Glenn McGrath for a duck. The penny had to drop sometime, and it did when most expected.
What a relief it was, then, to be playing Ireland next, but Sangakkara could not capitalize, falling after scoring just 10. Sri Lanka were already seen as the second-best team in the tournament, and they took their rightful place in the semi-finals.
They met New Zealand, put up a strong total of 289 for five, but Sangakkara continued to frustrate his fans, this time losing his wicket for 18. The Kiwis could not conjure a fight and Sri Lanka entered their second World Cup final.
Australia were too strong for all comers in this tournament, and Adam Gilchrist batted them to the title in this truncated game with a breathtaking century. After Upul Tharanga fell early, Sangakkara put up a stirring fight in the company of Jayasuriya. They added 116 for the second wicket in 17.4 overs. Sangakkara struck 6 fours and a stupendous six off McGrath, skipping down the wicket and lofting him over mid-wicket. It was sweet revenge for that dismissal for nought in the super-eight stage. The asking-rate, though, was very steep. Sangakkara brought up a run-a-ball fifty, slammed Brad Hogg to the extra-cover boundary, but then hit the next delivery into the hands of Ricky Ponting at mid-wicket. He had carved out 54 runs off 52 deliveries with 6 fours and that six. Sri Lanka now faded away quickly, just as the light did, and Australia lifted their third straight World Cup title after some blundering by the umpires. His best innings had come right at the end. It could not win the World Cup for his team, but it left his admirers wondering what might have been.
Sangakkara was in superb form throughout the 2011 World Cup. Now leading the side, he put up a huge 179-run third-wicket stand with Jayawardene in the lung-opener with minnows Canada in the south-eastern resort town of Hambantota. Sangakkara missed his century, caught and bowled by John Davison for 92, laced with 7 fours and a six, and having faced 87 deliveries. Jayawardene scored a round 100 (81 balls, 9 fours, 1 six), before Davison dismissed him too. Sri Lanka totalled 332 for seven, while Canada collapsed to 122 all out in 36.5 overs.
There was next a mighty struggle with Pakistan who put up 277 for seven at Colombo. Upul Tharanga and Dilshan raised 76 first up. Both fell in quick succession, as did Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, as Shahid Afridi began spinning his magic. Sangakkara was now engaged in a rearguard operation with Chamara Silva. The pair battled hard, with Sangakkara even slashing Umar Gul for a six over third-man. When the partnership had reached 73, Sangakkara, one short of a fifty, stepped out to his opposite number Afridi and lofted him, only to hole out in the deep. He had 2 boundaries besides that six in his 61 balls. Some of the lower order did put up a stirring fight but Sri Lanka were beaten by 11 runs.
Kenya lasted only 43.4 overs, being bundled out for 142. Malinga did most of the damage, capturing six wickets for 38 including an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick. Dilshan left after scoring 44. Sangakkara allied with Tharanga (67 not out, 59 balls, 12 fours) in a 74-run partnership to usher in victory in the 19th over. His unbeaten 27 off 24 deliveries contained 3 boundaries.
A downpour forced the eagerly-awaited face-off with Australia to be abandoned when Sri Lanka were 146 for three in 32.5 overs. Sangakkara was batting serenely on 73, having faced 102 deliveries and struck 7 boundaries. This halted Australia’s winning streak in the World Cup dating back to 1999.
Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by the World Cup record opening partnership of 282 between Tharanga and Dilshan. Batting at no. 5, Sangakkara was unbeaten with 11 when the innings came to a close at 327 for six. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 188.
In contrast, the Kiwis dismissed Tharanga and Dilshan early. Sangakkara, back at one-down, and Jayawardene got together again in a fine partnership. The hundred came up in 25 overs, and shortly thereafter Sangakkara raised his 9000th run in One-day Internationals. He reached 50 in 77 balls, and the century partnership was achieved off just about 25 overs. In their quest to accelerate the scoring-rate, Sangakkara lofted Scott Styris for a straight six, and Jayawardene played an exquisite late-cut to the boundary in the same over. As soon as the batting Powerplay was taken in the 37th over, Jayawardene departed after having scored 66. The partnership was worth 145. Sangakkara then went after Tim Southee, lofting him square on the off-side off either foot for 4.6.4 off consecutive deliveries. In the next over he carved Jacob Oram for two boundaries, punctuated by a leg-glance that brought him a long-awaited hundred. He had taken 119 balls to achieve the feat. He was castled by Nathan McCullum for 111, having faced 128 deliveries and struck 12 fours besides the 2 sixes. Sri Lanka totalled 265 for nine. New Zealand provided feeble resistance, the middle-order wrecked by Murali the wizard. Sangakkara was man-of-the-match.
The openers Tharanga and Dilshan gave no chance to the English in the quarter-final, posting another double-century partnership, this time an unbroken one of 231 as they coasted to victory in under 40 overs.
The adversaries once again in the semi-final were the Kiwis, who had knocked one of the favourites South Africa out of the tournament. This time there was more of a contest as they posted 217 before being all out in 48.5 overs, with Sangakkara holding three catches. After Tharanga left at 40, Dilshan and Sangakkara joined hands in another crucial partnership. In the 27th over Sangakkara launched into a Nathan McCullum delivery and hit it straight into orbit for a six. The pair carried the side steadily towards the target, hoisting the century stand in a bit more than 21 overs. Soon after, Sangakkara raised his fifty off 72 deliveries, Dilshan was dismissed for 73. The partnership was worth 120 in 25.2 overs. Then wickets began to tumble. Sangakkara himself slashed into the hands of the third-man, having scored 54 from 79 balls and carved 7 boundaries besides that six. Soon it was 185 for five in the 43rd over but no further alarms as Sri Lanka marched into their second successive World Cup final with 13 balls to spare. Sangakkara won another man-of-the-match prize.
There was rebuilding to do once Tharanga fell for 2 in the final. Sangakkara put on 43 with Dilshan, and then got together with Jayawardene. The hundred came up in 24 overs, and the fifty of the partnership off 9.2 overs. But the canny Yuvraj Singh had him edging a square-cut into the gloves of opposite number Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The stand was worth 62 in 11.2 overs. It was a priceless breakthrough for India as Sangakkara departed for 48, having faced 67 deliveries and struck 5 boundaries. Jayawardene went on to score a superb unbeaten century, and Sri Lanka hit up 274 for six, a total no team had chased in a World Cup final. There was further joy in their camp as Malinga trapped Virender Sehwag second-ball for a duck, and then induced the peerless Tendulkar to edge into Sangakkara’s gloves, having scored 18. There was a hush all over India with the total on 31 for two in 6.1 overs. But by now it was an inspired home team, and they brought up victory in the 49th over in one of the most thrilling World Cup finals.
It was, nevertheless, a brilliant tournament for Sangakkara. Leading from the front, efficient behind the stumps with 14 victims, and third-highest scorer in the tournament after Dilshan and Tendulkar, nothing more could be asked of him. Not once did he fail with the bat, his 465 runs coming at a tremendous average of 93, and a strike-rate of 83.78. This was Kumar Sangakkara at his very best.
It is interesting to compare Sangakkara’s World Cup figures at that stage with those of Adam Gilchrist. In 31 matches the Australian great scored 1085 runs at an average of 36.16 and a strike-rate of 98.01, with 45 catches and 7 stumpings. In 30 matches the Sri Lankan star had scored 991 runs at an average of 45.04 and a strike-rate of 78.71, with 36 catches and 10 stumpings. Gilchrist had the most catches, and Sangakkara the most stumpings, in the World Cup. Gilchrist had his nose far ahead for his blistering batting strike-rate, which made him a match-winner, but Sangakkara had a better average. There is little doubt, though, as to who the two best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the World Cup were, interestingly both left-handers.
Sangakkara was irresistible in the 2015 event. The captaincy had passed to Angelo Mathews. New Zealand trounced Sri Lanka in the opening match, posting 331 for six. Lahiru Thirimanne and Dilshan raised 67 first up in 13 overs before Sangakkara walked in. He put on 57 with Thirimanne off 9 overs before the latter was castled by Trent Boult for 65. Jayawardene fell for a duck, and in his next over Boult trapped Sangakkara leg-before for 39, scored off 38 deliveries. It was now an uphill task for Sri Lanka. They were bowled out for 233 in 46.1 overs.
The only real failure for Sangakkara in this tournament was against the unheralded but spirited Afghanistan. Having posted 232, the Afghans caused a sensation, dismissing both the openers for ducks. Sangakkara was bowled for 7 but Jayawadene scored a superb 100, and Thisara Perera hit a hurricane 47 off 26 deliveries to post a four-wicket win.
It was a different story in the next game versus Bangladesh. Thirimamme and Dilshan knocked up 122 for the first wicket in 24.3 overs. Sangakkara was playing his 400th One-day International, joining an exclusive club comprising Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahela Jayawardene. Along with Dilshan, he gradually raised the tempo, hitting hardly anything in the air. Their century stand came up in 16.2 overs. Sangakkara raced to his fastest hundred in One-day Internationals, off just 73 balls, in the last over. The double century partnership arrived in 24.5 overs. They hammered 16 boundaries in the last six-and a half overs. Theirs was a huge unbroken second-wicket partnership of 212 runs in 25.3 overs, Sri Lanka’s highest for the second wicket in One-day Internationals, and their third-highest partnership for any wicket in the World Cup. This was only the second time that century partnerships were posted for the first two wickets in the World Cup. India achieved this feat against South Africa in 2011. Sangakkara was unbeaten with 105 spanning 76 deliveries, and embellished with a six and 13 fours. Dilshan was not out at 161 (146 balls, 22 boundaries), the highest score for Sri Lanka in the World Cup, overhauling Aravinda de Silva’s 145 against Kenya in 1996. Sangakkara excelled behind the stumps too, snapping up 2 catches and effecting a stumping. He was the third to achieve this feat of a century and three dismissals in the World Cup, emulating Brendon McCullum and Adam Gilchrist. Sangakkara took his 400th catch in One-day Internationals as wicketkeeper and fielder. Bangladesh folded up for 240.
England scored an imposing 309 for six, thanks to a superb 121 (108 balls, 2 sixes, 14 fours) by Joe Root. Once again Thirimanne and Dilshan posted a century opening partnership, a round 100 in 19 overs. This time Dilshan was the first to leave for 44. Sangakkara was into his stride rightaway, and reached his fifty in 45 deliveries. He then stepped on the pedal, with several hits to the fence and a couple over it off Steven Finn. The century stand took just 16.1 overs. Thirimanne brought up his hundred from 117 balls. Sangakkara did not take much longer to hoist his own century off just 70 deliveries, the second fifty taking just 25 balls. It was superb batsmanship by the maestro, a successive three-figure knock by him. They continued to cruise, the 200 partnership logged up in 27 overs. The English bowlers made no impression on the pair and they cantered to a stunning nine-wicket victory, Thirimanne putting a final seal with a six that went soaring over long-on. The only other previous instance of chasing down a target of above 300 runs losing just 1 wicket in all One-day Internationals was when India beat Australia at Jaipur in 2013. It was a massive unbroken second-wicket partnership of 212 runs in 28.2 overs. Sri Lanka achieved the unique distinction of recording century partnerships for the first wicket and double century partnerships for the second wicket in successive matches. The same three batsmen were associated in these. Sangakkara was unbeaten with 117 off a mere 86 balls, dotted with 2 sixes and 11 fours. He was man-of-the-match. Thirimanne was 139 not out (143 deliveries, 2 sixes, 13 fours). Sri Lankan batting was on a huge high, led by exquisite strokeplay from Sangakkara.
Glenn Maxwell blasted a century off a mere 51 balls, second fastest in the World Cup after Irishman Kevin O’Brien’s whirlwind hundred in 50 deliveries in 2011, and Australia’s fastest hundred in One-day Internationals. With the other batsmen also pitching in, the Aussies piled up 376 for nine. This time Thirimanne fell early but Sangakkara and Dilshan got together in another century partnership. Dilshan hammered Mitchell Johnson for six boundaries in the 6th over. Sangakkara was again in sublime form, ringing in his fifty in 45 balls. They put on 130 in 19.5 overs when Dilshan departed for 62. Sangakkara slammed James Faulkner for three successive boundaries as Jayawardene helped add another 53 before being run out. Soon Sangakkara became the first to hit up three consecutive centuries in the World Cup, reaching the landmark in exactly 100 deliveries. He mistimed one from Faulkner to be caught in the covers for 104, having faced 107 balls and struck 11 boundaries. Despite some fireworks by the later batsmen, Sri Lanka folded up for 312 in 46.2 overs.
There was a relaxed outing next with Scotland. Yet again Sangakkara and Dilshan were in tandem, this time logging up a near double-century stand, 195 to be exact in 28.5 overs. They cruised almost until the half-way mark of the innings, the century partnership spread over 19 overs, and then changed gears. They brought up their hundreds off consecutive deliveries in the 34th over. It was Dilshan’s fourth century in the World Cup, and an unprecedented fourth consecutive hundred by Sangakkara in the World Cup and in all One-Day Internationals. This was his fifth ton in the premier event, emulating the feat of the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Only the Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar had more, with six to his credit. Dilshan was out soon for 104 (99 balls, 1 six, 10 fours). Sangakkara blazed on, clattering Alasdair Evans for 6.4.4.4.4 in the 36th over. Jayawardene and Sangakkara were dismissed off successive deliveries from Josh Davey. Sangakkara stroked 124 attractive runs from 95 deliveries, embellished with 4 sixes and 13 fours. As Angelo Matthews sprinted to his fifty in just 20 balls, Sri Lanka posted 363 for nine. Scotland could only total 215. Sangakkara won another man-of-the-match prize.
The quarter-final just did not go Sri Lanka’s way. With Kusal Perera opening, Thirimanne dropped down to no. 4. Perera was dismissed for 3, and Dilshan for zero. Thirimanne was enterprising in his association with Sangakkara, who dropped anchor. They added 65 in 15 overs before Thirimanne was caught and bowled by Imran Tahir. Wickets tumbled regularly. Sangakkara hung on till he was ninth out for 45, with the total only 127 after 36.2 overs. He had squared up to 96 deliveries and hit three boundaries. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 133. Jean-Paul Duminy grabbed a hat-trick, while Tahir snapped up four wickets.
The great Kumar Sangakkara retired from One-day Internationals with 14,234 runs, 402 catches (383 as wicketkeeper) and 99 stumpings in 404 matches. His aggregate was second only to the inimitable Sachin Tendulkar who hit up 18,426 runs in 463 games. In the World Cup, Sangakkara was the third-highest run-getter with 1,532 runs, behind Tendulkar (2,278 runs) and Ricky Ponting (1,743 runs). Sangakkara’s 482 dismissals were a record in One-day Internationals ahead of Adam Gilchrist who had 472 to his name. In the World Cup too, Sangakkara held the record with 54 dismissals, to Gilchrist’s 52. Sangakkara had by far the most stumpings totalling 13, and the second-highest number of catches at 41, to Gilchrist’s 45.
Sangakkara’s stint in the World Cup is a microcosm of his calibrated ascent into the galaxy of greats. His graph kept rising until he found himself among the best-ever, blossoming into consistency personified. A technically correct batsman, he could play shots all round the wicket off either foot without ever looking brutal. He had rare finesse with the willow like few others did.
(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).
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