Jubilant Jayawardene cherishes World record by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

DPMD Jayawardene, KC Sangakkara

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DateLine: 31st July 2006

 

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene was in jubilant mood after eclipsing the world Test partnership record with the wicket-keeping batsman Kumar Sangakkara in Colombo.

 

“It was a fantastic feeling,” he said of the phenomenal third-wicket stand of 624 against South Africa, spanning five sessions, 663 minutes and 950 balls. “Kumar and I are very good friends on and off the field and I am privileged to be involved in this with him.”

 

Sangakkara added: “It’s a great feeling to do things that no one has done.”

 

Jayawardene passed Sanath Jayasuriya’s 340 to record the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman, but he fell short of Brian Lara’s world record 400, posting the fourth-highest individual Test score of 374.

 

Jayawardene insisted that there was no talk of records when the pair resumed on Saturday at 485-2. “When we went out to bat today the focus was on pressing home the advantage and not records,” he said. “We thought we will bat until lunch and then decide. We never had any individual targets but we are happy with what we have achieved. However, the important thing is the team’s position.”