Sri Lanka were 415 for seven at stumps on the third day of this two-match series, with left-hander Sangakkara's 147 key to their avoiding the follow-on.
His century made the 36-year-old the first man to score hundreds in three consecutive innings on three separate occasions in Tests.
England, however, still led by 160 runs after Joe Root's maiden Test double century had taken them to a total of 575 for nine declared.
Sangakkara was involved in partnerships of 97, 126 and 96 with Kaushal Silva (62), Mahela Jayawardene (55) and Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (79 not out) respectively.
England captain Alastair Cook, often accused of lacking imagination, tried to unsettle the batsmen with unusual field placings and angles of attack.
But his bowlers were largely frustrated by Sangakkara, whose career batting average of 58.53 has only been bettered by players who've appeared in at least 25 Tests by Australia's Don Bradman (99.94) and the England duo of Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73) and Ken Barrington (58.67).
Sri Lanka resumed Saturday on 140 for one, with opener Kaushal Silva 62 not out and Sangakkara unbeaten on 32.
Silva had added just one to his score when, trying to sway out of the way of a James Anderson bouncer, he didn't lower his bat, with the ball grazing the face on its way through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Sri Lanka, though, were 212 for two at lunch with Sangakkara 73 not out and Jayawardene unbeaten on 29.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
