Sangakkara creates three ODI cricket landmarks

Hobart, March 11: Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara on Wednesday registered three One-Day Intertiol (ODI) cricket world records — two with the bat and one with the gloves as Sri Lanka hammered Scotland by 148 runs in a World Cup Pool A match at the Bellerive Oval here.

Continuing his good form, Sangakkara, 37, once again showed his master class with a 95-ball 124. With this he became the first batsman to record four consecutive hundreds and registered his 25th ODI ton. In the process, he also became the first batsman to score four centuries in a World Cup and in an ODI tourment.

Sangakkara, who will quit ODI cricket post this World Cup, passed his three figure mark in 86 balls to complement his scores of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 unbeaten against England and 104 against Australia from earlier ties in the tourment.

On Sunday, the left-hander became just the seventh man in history and the first in a World Cup to score three consecutive ODI centuries, and on Wedneday he claimed the record for his own.

Sangakkara hit 13 fours and four sixes off the 95 balls he faced in his innings. He edged it to wicketkeeper Matthew Cross off a Josh Davey delivery.

Not content with run-scoring records, he also became the first man to effect 500 ODI dismissals. Coming into the match, he had 400 catches. He took two catches of Cross and Michael Leask. He now has 402 catches and 99 stumpings to his credit.

He also passed Adam Gilchrist’s record of 52 World Cup dismissals by taking the catch off a faint edge from Leask. By the end of the match, he had taken 41 catches and made 13 stumpings in World Cups. (IANS)