Village Cricketer’s Unforgettable Moment Bowling Out Sangakkara in Dorset League
In a surprising turn of events, a village cricketer from Dorset, John Burns, found himself bowling out former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara during a match in the fifth tier of the Dorset Cricket League. Sangakkara, who is the sixth-highest Test run-scorer of all time, made a guest appearance for Shillingstone, much to the shock and excitement of Burns’ team, Kingston Lacy CC.
“We knew a couple of days before that he would be playing,” Burns told BBC South Today. “We were just hoping he would actually turn up and it wasn’t some kind of joke, when he did arrive it was just something special, it was amazing.”
Sangakkara, who retired from international cricket in 2015 and moved to the Dorset area last year, scored 68 runs off 50 balls before being bowled out by Burns. The former wicketkeeper also bowled seven overs, finishing with figures of 1-32.
For Burns, the experience of dismissing such a renowned cricketing figure in a club cricket match is something he will never forget. “It was just something special, it was amazing,” he said, reflecting on the memorable moment.
The appearance of Sangakkara in the fifth tier of the Dorset Cricket League has certainly added to the excitement and appeal of club cricket, attracting attention from cricket enthusiasts across the region, whether they enjoy club cricket, backyard cricket, beach cricket, or even blind cricket.
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