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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The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction will take place in Dubai on December 19 for the first time outside India. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who have done well in their first two seasons, will look to bring in a few outstanding players to construct a strong squad for the upcoming season. 

With five slots remaining, the Lucknow-based business has INR 13.9 Crores in the bank. In both seasons, KL Rahul’s team made the playoffs but failed to win a game in the knockout stages. Let’s look at the three players LSG can pursue in the IPL 2024 mini-auction as they seek to break the impasse this time. 

• Michael Bracewell

Michael Bracewell, the Kiwi talent, might be one of the Lucknow Super Giants’ best bargains at the IPL 2024 auctions in Dubai. Bracewell is a useful off-spinner who can be a deadly hitter in the end stages of an innings. If LSG can get the Kiwi, he will significantly impact ending games and meeting the team’s spinning criteria. 

• Kartik Tyagi

LSG traded bowler Avesh Khan to Rajasthan Royals for top-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal. So, there is a need for an Indian fast bowler, and Kartik Tyagi is the ideal candidate for the job. The 23-year-old has 15 wickets in 19 IPL outings and has bowled some outstanding death overs. Given his potential, LSG may place an offer for him at the future auction.

• Hrithik Shokeen

Hrithik Shokeen will not be a regular starter for the Lucknow Super Giants, but he can serve as an excellent backup to Krishnappa Gowtham. Deepak Hooda had a miserable season, and if he doesn’t step up, LSG will be forced to rely on Gowtham as an off-spinner.

Hrithik Shokeen adds value as a batter and can bat in the bottom order if necessary. He also has past league experience, which would be beneficial to him. As a result, Shokeen might be included in LSG’s IPL 2024 auction plan.