Cricket World Cup: Sangakkara scores fourth successive ton

Hobart, March 11 (PFP): Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to score four successive one-day international centuries during his side's World Cup Pool-A game against Scotland in Hobart.

The 37-year-old hit 124 in Sri Lanka's total of 363-9, to go with the three tons he had previously scored against Bangladesh, England and Australia.

Sri Lanka has won the match comfortably.

The left-hander now has five World Cup centuries, one behind the record of six held by India's Sachin Tendulkar, he has 14,189 career ODI runs.

Only Tendulkar (18,426), who retired in 2013, has more runs for their country in the 50-over format.

Sangakkara appears likely to retire from ODI cricket at the end of the World Cup.

Speaking in December, he said:  "If I'm not able to play in the next World Cup when one World Cup ends, there is no point in me sticking around. All I'll end up doing is taking up the spot of another player."

The wicketkeeper has enjoyed a prolific spell in the last 12-18 months, becoming the fastest player to reach 12,000 Test runs in January in the same match in which he scored his 11th double century, moving him one behind the record held by Australian great Don Bradman.

He has also scored more than 1,000 ODI runs in the previous four calendar years, and has more than 800 so far in 2015.

In the current World Cup, he has hit an unbeaten 105 against Bangladesh, was 117 not out against England, scored 104 against Australia and then 124 against Scotland.

Sri Lanka have already qualified for the quarter-finals, with Scotland eliminated.