Kusal Perera's Record-Breaking Century Shines in Consolation Victory

In a game where New Zealand had already clinched the series, Kusal Perera played very well in the final T20 match in Nelson with an amazing 101 runs off just 46 deliveries against New Zealand. The man was doing amazingly well, hitting 13 fours and 4 sixes, and he raced to his hundred in only 44 balls, which is the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in T20s.

Thanks to Perera, Sri Lanka achieved a strikingly large score of 218/5. Charith Asalanka, the team leader, also played a vitally important role and scored a quick 46 from 24 balls, which included hitting the ball very far five times. Perera's amazing play wasn't simply about the runs  it showed that Sri Lanka wasn't giving up without a fight.

Perera was very fortunate he didn't get out two times, first when he had only 15 runs and later when he hit 60. Despite those close calls, he kept going and ended up playing a very special game in T20 for Sri Lanka. He teamed up with Avishka Fernando for a wonderful 41 runs and then went on to add over a hundred runs with Asalanka, helping their team post a solid score.

However, just before the match was about to end, in the second-last over, Perera's time at the crease was cut short when Rachin Ravindra caught him out from Daryl Mitchell's delivery.

🚨 FIRST CENTURION OF 2025. 🚨

- Kusal Perera smashed 101 (46) with 13 fours and 4 sixes Vs New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/xKIFN9MdHy

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 2, 2025

Sri Lanka's Sparkling Start and New Zealand's Fielding Brilliance

In the game, Sri Lanka decided to be the first to bat, which was a first for them in the series. They began very well, getting 24 in just the first three overs. Then, something spectacular happened. Mitchell Hay pulled off an amazing play in the field. Hay ran after a ball that flew high towards the edge, jumped to catch it, threw it in play before he went out of bounds, and then caught it again.

Because of Hay's amazing catch, Pathum Nissanka had to leave the game with only 14 runs.

Perera dominated, making it utterly hard or difficult for New Zealand to catch up. Even though Kusal Mendis got out quickly after scoring 22 in 16 balls because Michael Bracewell caught him very nicely off Mitch Santner's play, it didn't throw off Sri Lanka. They remained calm, mostly thanks to Perera's amazing performance.

This win was a morale booster for Sri Lanka, showcasing their potential and resilience, even in the face of a lost series.

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In the second T20I between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on December 30, 2024, Sri Lanka had a strong chance to level the series and create history. Chasing 187, they were 69 runs away from victory with seven wickets in hand after 14 overs, a scenario that was quite promising. Kusal Perera’s brilliant batting gave Sri Lanka hope as they aimed to pull off a thrilling win, which would have tied the series at 1-1. At that stage, the Sri Lankan team seemed confident of chasing down the target.

It's all on at Bay Oval! How things stand with six overs remaining in the Sri Lanka chase. Follow play LIVE in NZ with TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, Sport Nation and The ACC. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/7h7R8dYvTv 📲 #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/GNJmHYttUx

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 30, 2024

Kusal Perera's exceptional knock of 48 from 35 balls gave the team a solid chance to pull off an historic victory.He tackled New Zealand’s bowlers with ease, delivering boundaries and rotating the strike effectively. With him at the crease, Sri Lanka seemed to be building a solid platform to chase down New Zealand's total. His resilience was evident as he played through some challenging moments and looked set to guide his team to victory.

The Turning Point: Perera’s Dismissal

However, things took a sharp turn when Perera was dismissed. His departure marked the start of Sri Lanka’s collapse, and momentum quickly shifted in favor of New Zealand. Jacob Duffy, a standout performer for the BlackCaps, claimed 4/15, continuing his excellent form. Sri Lanka, once in control, lost wickets rapidly, and the chase unraveled. New Zealand’s bowlers seized on Sri Lanka’s vulnerabilities, maintaining pressure with every over, ultimately guiding their team to victory as the match slipped away from Sri Lanka.

After Perera’s wicket, the Sri Lankan middle and lower order struggled to build partnerships, and the required run rate started to climb. Despite a valiant effort from other batsmen, the task proved too difficult. New Zealand's bowlers bowled with precision, and the fielding was sharp, making it increasingly hard for Sri Lanka to get back on track. In the end, Sri Lanka’s hopes were dashed, and they lost the match, leaving New Zealand to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Sri Lanka’s Challenge Ahead

This defeat leaves Sri Lanka with a tough task in the final match of the series.they will need to put in a complete performance. While Kusal Perera’s innings was the bright spot for Sri Lanka, the collapse afterward highlights the fragile nature of their batting lineup. The team will need to regroup and find a way to sustain pressure throughout the entire innings in the upcoming match.

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New Zealand’s Upper Hand in the Series

For New Zealand, this victory strengthens their position in the series and gives them the upper hand. Their bowling attack, especially after Perera's dismissal, showed their depth and ability to recover under pressure. The Kiwis will look to maintain their momentum in the final match to secure a clean sweep series win, while Sri Lanka will be hoping to bounce back with a more complete performance.

After more than two years, Angelo Mathews returns to Sri Lanka’s white-ball line up, and Kusal Perera will play for the first time in over a year. The two players were important for the ODI and T20I crews Sri Lanka Cricket have chosen for the impending series in New Zealand.

Lasith Croospulle and Sahan Arachchige, both uncapped batters, were part of the teams as well. Nuwanidu Fernando, a batsman, could make his T20I debut, and Matheesha Pathirana, a seamer, is hoping to make his ODI debut.

Jeffrey Vandersay, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwan Thushara, and the rest of the team did not travel to India in January.

After an awful ODI tour of India earlier this year, Mathews and Perera were included, and there were calls to pick more seniors in a World Cup year.

Despite not playing much after 16 months of recovery from a shoulder injury, Perera was reinstated. Despite the possibility that Sri Lanka might consider him for the ODI World Cup in India in October and November, he is currently only a member of the T20 squad to manage his workload.

Since Sri Lanka’s March 2021 tour of the West Indies, Mathews has not played for the white-ball teams. His most recent limited-overs experience came in two games against the England Lions for Sri Lanka A, in which he scored fifty runs, and in the Lanka Premier League, where he scored 201 runs for the Colombo Stars at an average of 40.20. Although his fitness has improved over the past year, he is not considered a seam-bowling option that is always reliable.

Who are the new faces?

Croospulle, who bats first, scored two centuries and a fifty in a List-A match against the England Lions.

Arachchige also put together a strong performance against the Lions, scoring crucial runs in the lower order and taking wickets with his off breaks. Nuwanidu also stood out against the Lions, scoring two runs over 50, and he also scored fifty against India to complete a strong run of form that began with the LPL. Croospulle, Nuwanidu, and Arachchige are all in the T20I team, while Arachchige is in the ODI team.

Avishka is one of the most well-known exclusions. He had just returned to the national team for the India tour following an impressive LPL, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer. In the most recent NSL 4-day tournament, he also scored 67 and 150. However, the selectors were forced to exclude him due to his poor performance in India, subpar performances against the Lions, and intense competition for top-order spots.

The absence of Rajapaksa is less troubling because, in recent months, the batter has resembled the player who was awarded Player of the Match in the 2022 Asia Cup final.

How the rest of the squads shape up

The remaining members of Sri Lanka’s squad appear to be fairly settled. Dasun Shanaka will lead both teams, and Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Chamika Karunaratne will play the majority of the batting for both white-ball teams.

In addition to bowling seam, Karunaratne is a member of a pace unit that also includes Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, and Kasun Rajitha. Dushmantha Chameera was originally scheduled to play, but the coaches are limiting how much time he gets on the field because of his history of injuries.

“The bowler will not be able to tour, as he is still undergoing his structured return-to-play program, a part of his rehabilitation program, following his left ankle surgery,”

SLC said. Madushan has taken his place in the T20I side, while Pathirana replaces him in the ODI squad.

However, despite a strong LPL, Thushara might consider himself unlucky for having not played India. In the seam-bowling department, Sri Lanka has a lot of options, and in Pathirana, they already have another slinger who has a little bit more pace.

With Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and the young allrounder Dunith Wellalage joining the spinners, there are no surprises. Because Sri Lanka does not require an additional spin option in New Zealand, Vandersay is left out.

The first of Sri Lanka’s four matches against New Zealand will be an ODI on March 25 in Auckland, followed by three T20Is. On April 2, the T20Is will begin.

T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.

ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana.