(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Kumar Sangakkara’s fifth successive first-class century led a remarkable recovery for Surrey against Essex.
The Sri Lankan finished unbeaten on 177 as Surrey closed on 334-7 having been reduced to 31-5 in the opening hour of a sun-drenched first day at Chelmsford.
Sam Curran (90) shared a 191-run partnership with Sangakkara for the sixth wicket while Stuart Meaker (43 not out) added more tail-end runs.
Seamer Matt Quinn (3-66) had earlier prospered with the new ball for Essex.
Sangakkara’s past five County Championship innings have produced scores of 136, 105, 114, 120 and 177 not out and he has now scored 769 runs this season at an average of 128.16.
In between, he also struck an unbeaten 124 in Surrey’s final One-Day Cup group match against Hampshire.
Five successive first-class centuries is a Surrey record and Sangakkara became the first player to achieve the feat since Mike Hussey for Northamptonshire in 2003.
