Centuries in 4 consecutive ODIs – remembering Kumar Sangakkara’s tremendous feat
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara hit four consecutive ODI centuries in 2015. It was a prolific year, indeed, for the hugely talented left-hander at the time.
Several other players have hit three consecutive ODI tons, but Sangakkara is the only man to collect four in a row. It remains to be seen if anyone will ever match or better this feat.
What’s more, he did it amid a the pressures of a World Cup, travelling from Australia to New Zealand and back again for his outstanding collection of four in four.
105 not out v Bangladesh, Melbourne
Sangakkara effectively warmed up with this unbeaten 105 against the Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the boundaries are by no means small. One six and 13 fours later, he had spent about two hours at the crease and faced 76 balls.
Tillakaratne Dilshan also scored a ton – they shared a 200-plus partnership. Sri Lanka won the match comfortably.
117 not out v England, Wellington
From Australia to New Zealand, Sangakkara arrived at the Westpac Stadium with a point to prove against the English. He did just that, following up the ton against relative weaklings Bangladesh with another against big guns England.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad had not answer to his brilliance en route to 11 fours and two sixes during an 86-delivery stay at the crease. Sri Lanka won the match despite a ton from Joe Root.
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104 v Australia, Sydney
Sri Lanka were unable to win this match, as they returned to Australia to play the tournament hosts. The Sydney Cricket Ground presented Sangakkara with trickier conditions this time, as he milked his way to 104 from 107 deliveries, collecting only 11 fours and no sixes.
A 377-run target proved to much for him and the rest of the team. This time it was Glenn Maxwell’s ton, rather than another from Sangakkara, that had the biggest say on the outcome.
124 v Scotland, Hobart
For a fourth ODI century in two a prolific two weeks, Sangakkara took the attack to the Scottish. Dilshan was along for the ride again, hitting another century as well.
This time Sangakkara collected 13 fours and four sixes, exploring most corners of the Bellerive Oval in Hobart with his orthodox and inventive shot selection – and outstanding stroke play.
Sri Lanka ultimately exited the 2015 World Cup at the quarter-final stage, when Sangakkara perished for just 45 in defeat to South Africa.
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