Sangakkara calls time on first-class career, goes out on a high

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara says he is retiring from first-class cricket at the perfect time after a remarkable English county championship season with Surrey. The 39-year-old left-handed batsman made an unbeaten 35 in his final first-class innings against Lancashire to finish the campaign with eight centuries and 1,491 runs at an average of 106.50.

1,491 Championship runs 8 centuries Average of 106.5 Kumar Sangakkara, that's some way to bow out. ?https://t.co/WmAgrA8P7d pic.twitter.com/KHL0KRQccN

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 27, 2017

"I'll miss it terribly, without a doubt, but that's a good thing," he told the BBC on Wednesday. "A lot of players walk away bitter and upset and regretting a lot of the things that might have been. "I walk away with a few regrets, like anyone would, but I'm absolutely happy with the way I played the game and what I've achieved.

Kumar Sangakkara in the Championship in 2017: 103*, 164, 180*, 200, 120, 114, 105 & 136 This is his world, we're just all living in it ? pic.twitter.com/OsbbkNUiGK

— BT Sport Cricket (@btsportcricket) September 20, 2017

"Sometimes you hold on a bit too long and I always think it's better to let go a bit sooner than later." Sangakkara, who quit test cricket in 2015, is fifth in the list of all-time run scorers. He will continue to play in international Twenty20 competitions next year.

My last game with @surreycricket family. Love you boys. Thank you for the memories.

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) September 28, 2017