Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for 18 in his final international innings, ending a remarkable 15-year career during the second Test against India in Colombo.
A full house of around 7,000 was in attendance at the picturesque P. Sara Oval to watch the fifth-highest run-getter in Test history play for the last time.
Sangakkara did not have to wait long in the dressing room after the hosts lost opener Kaushal Silva in the third over of the chase.
The crowd applauded warmly as Sangakkara was welcomed to the crease by two guards of honour – one formed by young children with raised bats near the boundary and another by Indian fielders.
The left-hander began fluently, hitting three boundaries but fell to his nemesis Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Indian fielders shook hands with Sangakkara as he walked off for one last time to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Sangakkara wrote on his Twitter feed:
Thank you for all the love. Been my privilege to play for my country and in front of all the fans.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) August 23, 2015
Sangakkara finished with 12,400 runs from 134 Tests at an average of 57.40.
He scored 38 centuries, including a best of 319 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.
Sangakkara follows Sachin Tendulkar of India, Ricky Ponting of Australia, Jacques Kallis of South Africa and Rahul Dravid of India in the all-time list of leading Test scorers.
Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, tweeted:
Well played @KumarSanga2. You have been a terrific ambassador for the game & a thorough gentleman. Warm welcome to the club of the Retired!
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 23, 2015
Former team-mate Mahela Jayawardene, with whom Sangakkara shared a world record partnership of 624 against South Africa in 2006, said he was proud of his close friend’s achievements.
“It wasn’t to be in this match but what he was for Sri Lanka cricket is something that you can’t take away. Very proud of you mate,” Jayawardene wrote.
