The Isle of Wight Over-50s in their new sponsored kit.

​A village cricketer has spoken of the “surreal shock” of dismissing the great Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara in Division Three of the Dorset County League last weekend.
Sangakkara has moved to Dorset because his children attend Bryanston School and turned out for Shillingstone CC on Saturday, because his long-time agent Charlie Austin plays for the club. They came up against Kingston Lacy at Pamphill Green in Wimborne Minster.
In a 76-run victory, Sangakkara, batting at No 5, made 68 from 50 balls (including a partnership of 63 with first-drop Austin) before being bowled by medium pacer John Burns, who could not quite believe what had happened.
“He made batting look so effortless and we were all awestruck watching him,” said Burns. “He had hit me for six a few overs before but he was coming down the wicket every few balls. I held back my length and he missed it and the ball hit the leg stump.
“I didn’t really celebrate because I couldn’t believe it – I was in shock. I expected the ball to sail back over my head and if he had connected I think they would still be looking for the ball today!  The whole experience was surreal and it was a privilege to meet and play against him.
“I was starstruck afterwards but he was very nice taking photos and signing things afterwards. “He even came to the local pub and bought us all a round of drinks.”
Sangakkara had promised Shillingstone that he would turn out for them this season, having taken part in a charity Q & A  - in aid of the Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance - for them earlier this year.  
“There was a massive buzz in the changing room, which is a mix of ages young and old, and everyone was excited to have him in there,” said Sangakkara’s new team-mate Nick Marshall.
“One of our players lent Kumar some whites to wear. We were all getting out cheaply and he came in and took his time not playing any risky shots, before starting to go a bit harder. “He spoke to us about how to approach batting on different wickets.”
Sangakkara, 46, scored more than 28,000 runs for Sri Lanka across formats, including 12,400 in Test cricket at an extraordinary average of 57. That places him sixth on the all-time Test run-scoring list.
He retired professionally at the end of 2017 and now divides his time between media work, often with Sky, and as director of cricket for Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals.
Since moving to Dorset he has been helping to train the county’s unbeaten over-50s team. 

​Kingston Lacy's village cricketers were in for a shock when opponents Shillingstone pitched up at their Pamphill Green ground on the outskirts of Wimborne Minster  for a Dorset League County Division 3 match this weekend.
Turning out for Shillingstone was former Sri Lanka left-hander Kumar Sangakarra, who moved to live in the area last year and promised to play a few games for the club when his busy international  cricket schedule allowed.
Sangakarra, 46, scored close on 28,000 runs, including 63 hundreds, in an illustrious career for Sri Lanka. 
Added to that can now be 68 Dorset League runs - and one wicket, that of Kingston Lacy tailender but, ironically, top scorer Les Small, who made 30 of his side's 101 all out.
Sangakarra, who retired from Test cricket in 2015, batted number five for Shillingstone and shared a fruitful half-century partnership with his agent, Charlie Austin (40). He top scored with 68 in his side's 177 all out.
He hit five fours and four sixes before being bowled by Lacy's John Burns (2-17), who celebrated the most famous wicket of his career.
The 76-run victory was Shillingstone's second in four league outings.