Sangakkara’s historic innings puts Lanka in command

Sangakkara’s 152, lucky since Ian Bell dropped a simple chance in the slips when he was on 98, means he has scored one century at least against each of the Test-playing countries.

Eight other batsmen have achieved this feat: Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Gary Kirsten, Rahul Dravid and Marvan Atapattu. You may add Matthew Hayden who has scored Test hundreds off every country except Bangladesh but hit another against the Rest of the World.

It was Sangakkara’s 16th Test hundred and his second in a spell in which he also hit 92 in the first innings of this match and 192 off the Australians. Since he discarded his wicketkeeping gloves he has scored 1,529 runs, including seven centuries, and hit 915 runs in a calendar year which did not begin until July.

Don Bradman would be proud of him. On the ground where he learnt his cricket, backing on to his old school, it must have been a satisfying achievement for the only lawyer turned world class batsman but not the only lawyer with a love of dispute.

He will expect Sri Lanka to capitalise on what he and Murali have done by winning on Wednesday although the weather may play a hand. When Sri Lanka was shot out for 188 an England victory looked a formality but the pressure from a supportive crowd, the excitement generated by Murali’s big day and Sangakkara’s relentless batting has turned the game upside down.