Perera blasts 13 sixes en route140, New Zealand win 2nd ODI, series
Mount Maunganui, January 5
A rollicking maiden century by Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera was ultimately in vain as New Zealand wrapped up the ODI series with a 21-run victory in the second ODI.
With Sri Lanka chasing New Zealand’s 319/7, they were on the ropes at 128/7 when Perera opened up. He faced 74 deliveries and cracked 13 sixes and eight fours before he was the last wicket to fall and Sri Lanka were out for 298 with 22 balls remaining.
Sri Lanka reached 112/2 when Ish Sodhi captured the wicket of Kusal Mendis for 20 to trigger a collapse which saw five wickets fall in six overs. But Perera refused to give up as he bludgeoned the New Zealand attack with brute force. But when an seemingly impossible victory seemed on the cards Matt Henry had Perera caught by Trent Boult at long-on.
Lasith Malinga was the pick of Sri Lankan bowlers with 2/45 while bowling for New Zealand Sodhi took 3/55. — AFP
Brief Scores: New Zealand: 319/7 (Taylor 90, Munro 87, Neesham 64, Malinga 2/45); Sri Lanka: 298 (Thisara 140, Gunathilaka 71; Sodhi 3/55)
HIGHLIGHTS
- 13 Sixes by Thisara Perera — the most by a Sri Lankan in an ODI innings. It is also the most against NZ in an ODI innings. In 2013, Perera hit five sixes and a boundary in an over to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson of South Africa
- 5 Perera conceded five sixes to James Neesham in an over in the first ODI on Jan 3
- 4 In the second ODI, Perera smashed four sixes in Tim Southee’s eighth over — the 46th off the innings
