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

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.

(Reuters)

"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.

"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.

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)