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Last Updated : 2024-04-24 10:25:00
17 February 2019 10:37 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis raises a toast to Kusal Perera for his heroic, unbeaten 153 which guided Sri Lanka to a sensational 1-wicket victory in first Test at Durban
Kusal Perera carried Sri Lanka to a sensational one-wicket win on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday as he hit a career-best 153 not out. Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on an unbeaten 78 in a last-wicket partnership to secure only Sri Lanka's second win in 14 Test matches in SA.
Victory seemed unlikely when the ninth wicket fell with the total on 226, with the tourists chasing a target of 304. But the left-handed Perera successfully farmed the strike, with South African captain Faf du Plessis persisting with wide-spread fields for the in-form batsman, while Fernando only had to face 27 balls during a 96-ball partnership.
Perera was on 86 when the ninth wicket fell but managed to keep most of the strike and to hit some telling blows in an innings of 200 balls which included 12 fours and five sixes. "It was a superman effort," said Du Plessis. "He (Perera) deserves all the accolades."
South Africa took the second new ball with the total on 263 but still kept most of their fielders on the boundary for Perera, who hit sixes off both Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada before slashing Rabada to third man for the winning boundary.
Perera, who came into the match with a career batting average below 30 and with his only previous century in 14 previous Tests having been made against Zimbabwe in Harare two seasons ago, shared three important partnerships. He put on 58 for the fourth wicket with debutant Oshado Fernando (37) and 96 for the sixth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva (48) before his extraordinary association with Vishwa Fernando. "I'm a little tired now, I don't know what to say," said Perera when he received the man of the match award. "I did my part but we are winning as a team."
The stand with Oshado Fernando was broken by Dale Steyn, who had Fernando caught at second slip by South African captain du Plessis. Two balls later he caught Niroshan Dickwella off his own bowling. Lanka were still a distant 194 runs short of their target when Perera was joined by De Silva, SL's last recognised batsman.(AFP)
Jude Sunday, 17 February 2019 10:45 AM
Simply Unbelievable !!! Wow !!
Samson Sunday, 17 February 2019 10:47 AM
Hats off to Kusal and the sportsmanship of SA captain Faf.
Jude Sunday, 17 February 2019 10:53 AM
This Win will go down in the Annals of world test cricket as the BEST come-from-behind Victory!!! Remember, it was DONE away and against the No2 ranked test side !!! Moreover, the Best Pace attack in test cricket!!! Bravo Bravo !!! Sri Lanka!!!
Jude Sunday, 17 February 2019 10:56 AM
Mind you!!! We Don't have Half BILLION Men to Choose a Cricket team !!!!??? Huh !!!
Jude Sunday, 17 February 2019 11:05 AM
Late Tony Greig Said it Right !!! The Best ORIGINAL talented Cricketers come from SRI LANKA !!! Period!!! And this is a Testament to that !!!
ANTON Sunday, 17 February 2019 11:11 AM
ROYAL POWER !!! AND GLAD TO SEE ANOTHER YOUNG TALENTED ROYALIST, AMBULDENIYA.
Srilankan Sunday, 17 February 2019 01:41 PM
Royal Power...... Bond Scam too.....
Bushel Sunday, 17 February 2019 02:17 PM
Glad to see another priminister a Royalist
Nuvan Sunday, 17 February 2019 11:21 AM
Let's hope that this is not a flash in the pan and go for consistency.
Paramour Sunday, 17 February 2019 11:25 AM
A clear message to the rest of non-performers like Mendis, either show the nos or face the axe.
DG Monday, 18 February 2019 08:07 AM
Unbelievable effort by this young man. Great. Congratulations.
Eddie Monday, 18 February 2019 10:26 AM
Why is that we cannot think as SriLankans and not from which school KJP studied.Until we get rid of this mentaility, there will always be jealousy and backbiting.C'mon lets think as Srilankans
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