Kusal Perera’s Record-Breaking Century Leads Sri Lanka to Consolation T20 Win Over New Zealand
Kusal Perera smashed a career-best 101 off just 46 balls to propel Sri Lanka to a thrilling seven-run victory over New Zealand in the third and final T20 match in Nelson on Thursday.
Perera’s electrifying innings, featuring 13 fours and four sixes, helped Sri Lanka post an imposing 218-5. Despite a spirited chase, New Zealand fell short, finishing at 211-7. The victory came as a consolation for Sri Lanka, as New Zealand had already secured the series with convincing wins in the first two matches.
Perera’s century set a new benchmark as the fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20 internationals. His knock, full of aggressive intent, was not without drama—he was dropped twice, on 15 and 60, and had a nervy start when he edged the first ball from Zak Foulkes towards third man.
"It was a wake-up call, so I had to back myself and execute my normal game," Perera said. "The coach told me, ‘Once you get a start, you have to finish the game,’ so I tried to do my best."
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka praised the team’s resilience, saying, "It’s a good win for us. Throughout the series, we played good cricket but couldn’t manage to get a win. Finally, we got it."
Perera’s brilliance was complemented by a quickfire 46 off 24 balls from Asalanka, who smashed five sixes and a four. Together, the duo added 100 runs, building a solid foundation after a 41-run opening partnership with Avishka Fernando (17).
New Zealand’s chase was kept alive by Rachin Ravindra’s 69 off 39 balls, supported by Tim Robinson’s 37 off 21 and Daryl Mitchell’s explosive 35 off 17. Mitchell’s final-over fireworks included four sixes off Asalanka, who had earlier impressed with figures of 3-25 in his first three overs but finished with 3-50.
A stunning fielding effort by Mitchell stood out as he sprinted to the boundary, juggled a top-edge catch mid-air, and completed it upon re-entering the field of play to dismiss Pathum Nissanka for 14.
With this victory, Sri Lanka ends the T20 series on a high note and shifts focus to the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting in Wellington on Sunday.