Kumar Sangakkara accumulated 372 runs in the series, the highest by a Sri Lankan in a bilateral series.

Against the Proteas, star batsman Kumar Sangakkara has always done well. He made his debut against them and was Man of the Series when they toured Sri Lanka four years later in 2004. Sri Lanka in fact whitewashed the Proetas on that occasion. Nine years later, when they visited the island again, he finished as Man of the Series, which helped Sri Lanka to clinch the series 4-1, more importantly there were many milestones and a new dimension to Sangakkara’s game as well.

He made 372 runs in the series, which is a record by a Sri Lankan as the most runs scored in a bilateral series. The previous record was held by Tillekeratne Dilshan, who had made 352 against India in India in 2009 under Sangakkara’s captaincy.

Sanga’s 372 runs came at an amazing average of 93 and his strike rate was a remarkable 107. Into the bargain, he also piled up his career best score of 169, which came in the first ODI at R. Premadasa. There were also 13 dismissals by Sangakkara behind the stumps and it was the perfect series for him. The only time he failed was in the third ODI at Pallekele and Sri Lanka went onto lose that game.

This year, Sangakkara is the highest run getter in the world in ODIs. He has scored close to 900 runs in 15 innings. He averages 73 this year with a strike rate of 92. Last year Sangakkara won three prestigious ICC Awards including ICC Cricketer of the Year. One thing that he missed out on was ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year. Perhaps, he has an eye on that too.

Something that you have to admire about Sangakkara is his preparation prior to a game. He was a pain as Sri Lanka captain. The day before a match the press would wait for the arrival of the captain for the pre-match media conference, but Sangakkara after nets would spend additional time getting someone to do throw downs at him. It looked as if he was the youngest member of the squad who had to prove himself to the management.

He earned the admiration of everyone for such sort of commitment to fine tune his game and even today nothing much has changed. Sangakkara shows the same enthusiasm as he showed 13 years ago when he first came into the side. The enthusiasm that impressed his first captain Sanath Jayasuriya is still there. His preparation for a game is meticulous.

“I am 35 years old and I am competing with guys who are 23, 24, 25 or 26. So I have got to keep up.  I have to keep up my fitness, my short making ability and everything. I am being pushed to be as good as the younger guys. That’s a lot of fun. It’s something that I am enjoying,” Sangakkara said.

He has also begun to play better while under pressure. Sangakkara is helping Sri Lanka to win more games while chasing as he ensures he stays until the job is done. In the fourth ODI at Pallekele, he added 184 runs with Dilshan for the second wicket. There was hardly any requirement for Sangakkara to take risks and he played like he usually does with a straight bat.

But in the final ODI, when Sri Lanka shuffled with the batting and sent him in at number four, the need of the hour was for quick runs and he filled that role perfectly. His unbeaten 75 came off just 45 deliveries as he punished the Proteas with some excellent improvisation.

Not only those improvisations caught the opposition off guard, it also put them under pressure as there were misfields and Sri Lanka went onto post a commanding 307.

Sangakkara’s enthusiasm for the game needs to be appreciated.

by Rex Clementine
Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)