Kumar Sangakkara 95 off 184 Balls 255 Mins 13 Fours vs England 2nd innings of 2nd Test, Kandy, March 07 - 11, 2001 - video Dailymotion

Mr. Devotor

Relive one of the early gems of Kumar Sangakkara’s illustrious career – a masterful 95-run innings against England in the 2nd Test at Kandy, played between March 7–11, 2001.  Facing a disciplined English bowling attack on a turning track, Sangakkara showcased incredible patience, technique, and temperament. He batted for 255 minutes, faced 184 deliveries, and struck 13 beautiful boundaries in a knock full of class and character. Though Sri Lanka eventually lost the match by 3 wickets, Sangakkara’s innings was the highlight — a blend of grit and grace that hinted at the greatness to come.  This video captures the best moments of that knock — every flick, drive, and cut — reminding us why Sangakkara became one of the greatest left-handers in the history of the game.  📌 Match Details:  Match: Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd Test  Venue: Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy  Date: March 07–11, 2001  Innings: 2nd Innings – Sri Lanka  Runs: 95  Balls: 184  Time at Crease: 255 minutes  Fours: 13  👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more legendary cricketing moments!  🎥 Let’s rewind the clock and witness Kumar Sangakkara’s genius in whites.

Transcript

00:00Kumar Sangakara's innings of 95 of 184 balls in the second innings of the second test against

00:07England at Candy in March 2001 was a masterclass in grit and elegance.

00:12He spent 255 minutes at the Currys, crafting a near-century list with 13 crisp boundaries.

00:19Although England eventually clinched the match by three wickets, it was Sangakara's knock

00:23that stood out — a display of patience, precision and pure class.

00:28In the sweltering heat of Candy, the young left-hander held the fort with remarkable composure,

00:33offering a glimpse of the greatness to come.

00:36Every shot he played was a statement, and while he fell just short of a well-deserved century,

00:41his inning remains etched in memory as one of the determination and grace.

00:45Let's revisit that special knock, hit play and enjoy the brilliance of a future legend

00:50in the making.

00:51Kumar Sangakara, the Sri Lanka football keeper, in at number three.

00:55He had his problems in the first innings against the short pitch delivery.

00:59Extra pace in this pitch.

01:01It's not 300, the next landmark for Darren Goff.

01:07It's all happening as they say.

01:10No ball, pulled away, well-played by Sangakara, he's got four for it, a good stroke, a pretty

01:17good bouncer from Andrew Kadic, had pace and bouncer to the right height, a good shot from

01:22the left-hander.

01:23Good reply.

01:25No ball call, gets on the ball quickly, it's in the air, he's got full bat on it.

01:37Pulled away again, fine leg, Darren Goff, well, he's interested but he can't throw too quickly

01:48away to his right, another fine stroke from Sangakara, defiance from the Sri Lankans, second

01:55boundary in the over.

01:56I do like him as a player, comes in at number three, plays his shots, cracking shots square

02:07of the wickets offside and then just swivels on this, short of a length from Kadic, he's

02:12got a good eye, lightning fast outfield.

02:17He's been keeping wickets for 157 overs, he was in in the first over of the innings.

02:23There are so many of these decisions that it's a bump ball, very clear.

02:27It's going to be four more, runs coming really quickly here now for Sri Lanka.

02:36Well it's all happening, good stroke player from Sri Lanka, good counter attack, only in

02:49the ninth over, score 42, three wickets down in the second innings.

02:56I'm sure we will debate it more and more but just to put an end to it in this particular

03:04session, common sense, where does common sense come into it?

03:10Who let these dogs out, for the referee?

03:17Hammered away, beautiful stroke from Sangakara.

03:23He's never been worried by the shortfall and has taken all the England bowlers to task.

03:35That's a beauty, he's got right inside it, he knows there's nobody at the mid-wicket so

03:40he doesn't really have to control it or keep it down.

03:42That's just a nasty play, just swivelling as he plays it, making himself all the way.

03:48So tell me the point of this, there's a 7-2 offside field.

03:53And you're there, the batsman is about.

03:56They're certainly discussing Sonath Jai Serea's dismissal but you're quite right.

04:01It's all about the conduct.

04:05What are they thinking?

04:06They have Watmore the coach.

04:10That's nicely played, just flicked off of his hip there by Sangakara.

04:15Just got enough on it to roll the foot.

04:19Baron Goff got a foot on it.

04:23Just rolled into the rope.

04:26Beautifully timed.

04:27It really is such good timing.

04:29Just a nice flick of the wrist.

04:31And Darren Goff was always going to struggle with this run.

04:35He was never quite sure whether to go down and fall over.

04:38He opted for the boot and just not able to save it.

04:43Good piece of footwork.

04:44Just didn't take enough pace off the ball.

04:47Oh, now that's a really good shot.

05:02Paddock again with the chase.

05:04Better timed.

05:05Paddock does get a big size 12 on that though.

05:10Good piece of fielding.

05:15Better footwork than Darren Goff.

05:17It's a long chase for the big fella and he's done well.

05:21Got the ball to stop completely but lovely timing again and placement.

05:26Back the foot goes through the line.

05:29Presenting the full face.

05:31There's a lifted piece of footwork.

05:44Oh, missed stumping chance.

05:47Stuarts missed the ball.

05:49With Sangakara way out of his ground.

05:52Big spinning delivery from Giles.

05:55Beautifully bowled.

05:56Well flighted.

05:57Drew Sangakara down and Stuarts missed the stumping.

06:00Great delivery.

06:01Did him in flight.

06:02Nowhere near the pitch.

06:03It's spun on the inside of the bat.

06:05That's a classical dismissal for a left armor.

06:07Bowling over the wicket.

06:08And Alex Stewart just didn't spot it.

06:13He's picked that up.

06:18A couple of bounces to the road.

06:22Good counter attack by Sangakara.

06:29This really is the quality of this young man Sangakara.

06:32Always likes the challenge.

06:34And he does take on Giles.

06:37Hitting more mid wicket.

06:39The patient is the goal.

06:40The quarterback is the top 8-4 in the corner.

06:41And Sengakara moves on to 40.

06:43Dealshan hasn't placed a ball yet.

06:4688 to 5.

06:47Sri Lanka just 2 behind now.

06:49But they've lost those 5 wickets in this 2nd innings.

06:52innings

07:01Sangha Cara down the track it's a magnificent stroke away from the ring

07:05before Sri Lanka in front at last didn't he play that well Sangha Cara

07:12getting down to Robert Croft which is drifting into him and punching it away

07:20on the onside

07:23good use of the feet just see Sangha Cara getting up to the pitch of it

07:29there in their candy with Sri Lanka second in score on 98 for six they leave by

07:37just eight runs ready for coach dad what more to think about story of Sri Lanka's

07:48second innings brilliant new ball spell again from Goff and Paddock white chipped

07:54in with that vital wicket of Jaya Wardner and then two wickets to the off spinner

07:58Croft reducing Sri Lanka he's smashed eight boundaries in his 47 not out he's quite

08:05happy to counter-attack but England will be very very disappointed if they can't

08:13press home their advantage from here

08:16it's an in and out type of field because deep on the leg side there's a deep backward square leg

08:29and a deep mid wicket here's the first ball of the fourth day's play oh

08:33Sangha Cara's got that away through the offside and that'll be very fine 50 indeed for the tall

08:47left-hander from Sri Lanka 50 coming up in just 94 balls faced including now nine boundary

08:57course very fine innings by Thomas Sangha Cara but um wickets coming around him he's held the fort

09:04and um Sri Lanka no doubt um looking to him to get them out of this uphill situation

09:10the players deciding that Sangha Cara hadn't played a genuine shot at this ball

09:31they were probably wrong

09:32off to Sangha Cara

09:45chase for Croft

09:50coming back for three

09:51going England's way so far this morning in the first half hour

10:02i do have to question same choice of bowler at the hantana end

10:08thought that Croft have been a much better option than Giles Giles hasn't been at his best

10:13so far on this tour of Sri Lanka he's a real star in Pakistan

10:17so it's caused a bit of the problem i think

10:21oh good shot just uh pure timing that for extra cover it probably won't go for four

10:28no great feeling fielding brilliant stuff

10:36born England uh 12th man who's uh on the field

10:40Darren Gough is off we think beautiful shot this was a more flighted delivery and he's played with the turn

10:51hasn't tried to hit it too hard Sangha Cara

10:54lovely control with the hands and this was also a good feeling Michael Vaughan

10:59trying to get their own way there

11:01down the track over mid off good shot from more Sangha Cara

11:08lovely stroke things not going England's way eight off the over

11:15155 for six now

11:20what a reply straight down the wicket

11:23picked out the length beautifully he knew there was no one back

11:26just flipped it over the top he really is playing well

11:29unlucky for her feet with fingers wrist elbow shoulder

11:38that's away for four runs

11:44tell me what Sangha Cara is a very good batsman

11:49i think he's an excellent cricketer

11:51keeping Kalawitharana out of this Sri Lankan team

11:55Sangha Cara is the wicket-keeper another vocal wicket-keeper has to be said

12:02but he can surely bat

12:03so involved with good effect against the West Indies around the wicket

12:24quite a number of West Indies left-handers this is going to be close with a hit

12:28with a hit with a hit he's in

12:36Garmasina may have had a life when England appealed to that back pad catch which thought took

12:43put down a tough chance for Craig White but a chance all the same

12:59Sangha Cara is willing to pull it to wide of the bowler

13:03it's a bit of a chance

13:04they are the stick of the don't on his follow-through

13:10never got himself in a position to take the catch he's still on his follow-through there Craig White

13:16doesn't want to hit it there Sangha Cara on the pull

13:21sometimes they stick the full middle-order batsman

13:24the demanding job in these conditions to keep wickets then to come in at number three

13:36it's going to be quick he can't get there Sangha Cara is on to 95 and uh

13:54Sri Lanka lead now by 90 runs

13:58he's gone this time Sangha Cara can't believe he's done that so the ploy for natural

14:11Australia has worked perfectly Sangha Cara tented down the track looking for that big hit over the

14:17leg side but he's perished for 95 and at last England get that breakthrough Sri Lanka seven down

14:25for 181 and it's Croft and the same who has set the trap and it's mid-off that has got this wicket

14:32Nasser Hussain in from the boundary tempting Sangha Cara to go over the top he gets enough

14:38action on the ball Robert Croft this time good take from Alex Stewart Sangha Cara kicks himself

14:44hits himself he's on his way back to the pavilion he scored 95 he's an emotional boy 181 for seven

14:52it Kumar Sangha Cara is widely regarded as one of the most elegant and technically sound left-handed

15:00batsmen in the history of the game his batting style combines grace intelligence and consistency

15:06Sangha Cara was known for his beautiful stroke play his shots especially through the offside

15:11were a treat to watch cover drives square cuts and flicks of his pads were among his signature strokes

15:17all played with perfect timing and balance he had a rock solid technique which helped him succeed in

15:23all formats and in different conditions around the world his head position foot movement and batswing

15:29were textbook perfect allowing him to handle both pace and spin comfortably in game spinner Sangha Cara

15:35footwork was exceptional he would use his feet to come down the track or rock back quickly to play square

15:41of the wicket this made him a dominant player in the subcontinent Kumar Sangha Cara was a

15:47thinking cricketer he could adapt his game based on the match situation whether it was building a long

15:53innings in test cricket or accelerating in ODIs and T20s he understood the game deeply and adjusted

15:59accordingly his temperament was one of his greatest strengths he was calm under pressure and often

16:05rescued Sri Lanka from difficult situation his hunger for runs and ability to concentrate for long periods

16:12made him a prolific run scorer though he had classical technique he also had

16:17strong wrist that helped him maneuver the ball into gaps and rotate the strike efficiently this made

16:24him equally effective in slower conditions Sangha Cara rarely played reckless short he built his

16:29innings methodically and made it difficult for ballers to dismiss him his short selection was very

16:35mature and disciplined in summary Kumar Sangha Cara batting style was a perfect blend of class control

16:41and intelligence he remains an inspiration for young cricketers worldwide if you like this video please

16:48comment share and subscribe thanks for watching

Kumar Sangakkara 95 off 184 Balls 255 Mins 13 Fours vs England 2nd innings of 2nd Test, Kandy, March 07 - 11, 2001

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