Sunday 15 June 2014 01:55, UK
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara was delighted with his personal milestone after scoring his first Test hundred at Lord's.
The Sri Lanka batsman, the eighth highest run scorer in Tests, became the first man to score hundreds in three consecutive innings on three separate occasions in Tests.
And his first century at Lord's saw him rewrite cricket's record books on a chastening day for England's bowlers on day three of the first Test.
Sangakkara is one of the world's leading batsmen, yet like many illustrious names before him - including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis - he had not made a century at the home of cricket.
The 36-year-old, on what could be his final Test appearance at Lord's, rectified that on Saturday afternoon, however, as an innings of 147 moved him onto the famous honours board and helped steer Sri Lanka to 415-7 - still 160 in arrears.
He told Sky Sports: "It's something I've always wanted to do. Coming on this tour, which might be my last Test tour to England, I just wanted to enjoy it. If it happened, it would happen.
"I just did a bit of preparation, changed a bit in my technique right from the start and I'm pretty happy it worked.
"It's a very special place to play your cricket at, and Sri Lankans have done pretty well individually here. It feels very special to get on the honours board."
It was all the more memorable for Sangakkara as his great friend Mahela Jayawardene, who has scored two hundreds at Lord's, was at the other end.
"It was very, very good because he's done that twice before and knows how special that feels so to have him there when I scored the hundred was very special," Sangakkara added.
The two put on 126 for the third wicket although Jayawardene could not follow his ally to three figures after being trapped in front by Stuart Broad for 55.
Sri Lanka comfortably avoided the follow on, thanks to their efforts and that of captain Angelo Mathews (79no), and it appears a draw is now inevitable.
However Sangakkara said: "It's very much alive. It's a pity we couldn't keep England to 400 or just below because if that had happened it would have been a really interesting game with us more in the driving seat.
"Right now, England will try and get the next three wickets and try and put the pressure back on us, but if we bat well -Angelo's batting really well, the tail can hold their own - and we get another 60 or 70 runs, it'll be a very good Test match."
