Twitter Reactions: New Zealand survive Thisara Perera scare to seal the series

Perera was the last one to get out after scoring 140 off just 74 balls.

By Aditya Gajanan Kukalyekar verified

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Thisara Perera
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Thisara Perera. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

New Zealand have sealed the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka by winning the second game. The victory didn’t come easy for them though as the hosts came across yet another fighter from the opposition camp and this time it was Thisara Perera. The all-rounder slammed a sensational century and took his team ever so close to a famous victory only to fall agonisingly short.

Chasing the total of 320 to stay alive in the series, Sri Lanka lost Niroshan Dickwella early but his opening partner Danushka Gunathilaka showed his talent today. Even the last match centurion Kusal Perera was dismissed early but the left-handed opener was keen on taking the attack to the opposition. Kusal Mendis played an ideal foil to him as Sri Lanka stayed abreast with the required run-rate. But the overs 23-27 turned out to be game-changing. Ish Sodhi ran through their middle-order.

The likes of Gunathilaka (70), Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne were sent back with a blink of an eye as they were reduced to 128/7 from 112/2 and another one-sided match was in the offing. But Thisara Perera had other ideas. Nobody saw the sensational innings coming from him. He just blunted the ball everywhere thanks to some poor bowling from the Kiwis as well.

The knock which began as just fun turned into a serious one as Sri Lanka starting getting so close to the target. Perera was in the blistering mode as he brought up his maiden ODI century as well and then ripped apart the opposition. The 46th over saw him scoring 24 runs off Tim Southee which brought the equation down to 26 off just 24 with a single wicket in hand. But Matt Henry slower-one undid him in the end and Trent Boult’s acrobatics ended his heroic knock not before scoring 140 off just 74 balls with eight fours and 13 massive sixes.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 298 runs in the 47th over and lost the game and series by just 21 runs. Having said that, Perera won the hearts with his batting as the crowd appreciated him and even the hosts congratulated him for the greatest ever knock.

New Zealand once again pummel Sri Lanka

Earlier, the hosts won the toss and opted to bat first only to find themselves in trouble early in the innings. Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill couldn’t make an impact in this match but Colin Munro and Ross Taylor made it count. Both slammed aggressive half-centuries after which Jimmy Neesham continued to shine as an all-rounder as he scored 64 off just 37 balls to propel the Kiwis to 319/7 in 50 overs which eventually proved enough despite Thisara Perera’s staggering knock.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the thrilling game:

[interaction id=”5c2f163fa09b672aaf3f765e”]

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