[Video] Sangakkara's dismissal | 'Rudi Koertzen gives a shocker'

Courtesy pakpassionvideos

Rudi says sorry to Sangakkara

Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene revealed South African umpire Rudi Koertzen apologised to Kumar Sangakkara for the decision that cost the star left-hander the chance to create history by becoming the first man to score double centuries in three successive Test matches.

The decision also cost Sri Lanka any chance of pulling off an upset win on the final day of the second Test against Australia as they made a brave attempt to chase a record fourth innings total of 507 in Hobart.

Sri Lanka was eventually dismissed for 410 but the game was effectively sealed for Australia when Sangakkara - the number four ranked batsman in the world - was given out on 192 with the score at 8-364.

Sangakkara, who has now scored five centuries in his past eight Test innings, was given out caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting off the bowling of Stuart Clark while attempting a hook shot.

But television replays showed the ball only struck his shoulder and made no contact with his bat or glove on the way through.

Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene revealed after the game that Sangakkara was upset about the decision but accepted it after speaking with Koertzen after the game

"Rudi came in and said sorry to him and Kumar is fine with it," Jayawardene said.

"He was disappointed at the moment but when you sit back after half an hour and think about it you realise it's a mistake made by a human - that's it."

"People make mistakes and as cricketers we do the same."

Ponting said the Australians thought that Sangakkara had edged the ball onto his shoulder when they appealed.

"I think we all reacted on the two noises we heard at the time, it sounded like it was either glove or bat up onto his helmet," he said.

"I obviously caught the catch, appealed for it and it was given out but we all know how quickly things happen on the field - especially a bouncer being bowled like that."

Despite Sangakkara's misfortune - with both captains agreeing it was an innings of the highest class - Jayawardene admitted his side had been outclassed by the Australians over the two match series in which they failed to bowl the home side out on a single occasion.

"The series was very disappointing," Jayawardene said of the 2-0 defeat.

"I felt we had a very good team and a good (bowling) attack but the way we played wasn't very consistent."

"We couldn't penetrate through their top order and then the way we batted in the two first innings of the two Test matches was very disappointing."

Source