Stats: Kumar Sangakkara misses out on rare FC records

The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara continued his great form in the County Championship by scoring 5 centuries in 5 consecutive innings and almost made it 6 centuries in 6 innings before falling 16 runs of the achievement. Playing for the Surrey team, Sangakkara struck a double hundred in the first innings against Essex at the Chelmsford’s County Ground and attracted all eyes ahead of his 2nd outing in the game on the final day as he is on verge of making history.

While Surrey kept losing wickets and added misery to his task, bad light and rain around slimmed the chances of Sangakkara’s record ton. However, he kept going and scored 84 in just 107 balls with 12 fours before giving a return catch to Tom Westley to bring curtains down to the hopes of becoming only the 4th player in first-class cricket history with centuries in 6 consecutive innings.

Players with 5 or more centuries in consecutive first-class innings:

Sangakkara struck centuries in both the innings in his previous game against Middlesex and came close to doing the same against Essex as well by following his first innings double ton. Had the Sri Lankan managed to score a ton in the 2nd innings as well, he could have been only the 4th player with twin centuries in consecutive first-class matches.

Players with twin centuries in consecutive first-class games:

Kumar Sangakkara’s double ton in the first innings vs Essex was his 13th in first-class cricket and with that, he now has the highest number of double centuries in the FC cricket among Asian players. The 39-year-old left-hander currently has 99 centuries across all formats with 61 in first-class cricket and 38 in List A cricket. Only 36 players including two from Asia have managed to score 100 centuries across all formats in professional cricket so far.

(Stats as on 30th May 2017)