Kusal Perera’s heroics on Sunday (16th February) helped Sri Lanka to register a memorable 1-wicket win over South Africa in the first Test of the two-match series at the Kingsmead in Durban.
While all other Lankan batsmen failed to counter Proteas attack in Durban, Perera was brilliant with the bat to watch out, as the left-hander scored a half-century in the first innings and then played one of the greatest knocks in the history of Test cricket in the second innings.
Chasing 304, Perera played an unbeaten knock of 153, as well as, stitched an epic 78-run unbeaten partnership with No. 11 Vishwa Fernando, who scored just six runs off 27 deliveries to help the Islanders to cross the line by one wicket against South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the Test series here.
Following his match-winning knock, Perera garnered praise from Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri, who hailed the Sri Lankan batter for single-handedly took the tourists over the victory line.
Shastri took to Twitter hail Perera’s stunning knock at Kingsmead along with sharing his picture of the celebration. He wrote, “Kusal Perera. You beauty. You did it single-handedly with a fighter in a number 11. Sri Lanka. You've watched one of the greatest innings ever played #Cricket”
Noteworthy, the 28-year-old’s Durban knock is being compared to the historic knock by West Indies legend Brian Lara’s knock against Australia in 1999.
Lara had played a similar knock in 1999 in the third Test against Australia, as the legendary left-hander single-handedly secured a victory for the Windies with his unbeaten knock of 153, same as Perera’s score, and also had stitched crucial partnership with No. 10 Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
