Lara’s finals hopes alive
PERERA STEERS SRI LANKA WIN
LARA has kept its slender finals hopes alive with a comfortable five-wicket win over fellow finals aspirant Geelong City.
The Cats ran down the Sharks’ 212 with more than 10 overs to spare, with Brad McMaster spearheading the assault with 63 after losing opening partner Andy Hughes for 15.
“We look to bat 85 overs and we knew that if we could, that we’d be able to chase down the score,” Cats’ captain Daniel Weigl said post-game.
“Momentum is such a big thing and we talk about not losing two wickets in a row.
“We were able to do that after a 30-run partnership, while Brad and I were able to combine for a 60-run stand.”
Despite losing Rob Sodomaco for 23 Lara looked to be cruising at 2-123, although when Weigl (32) fell to Adrian Saltalamacchia (1-39) and McMaster to Logan Taylor (1-35) the Cats developed the staggers at 4-137.
Tentative moments of playing and missing followed before Brenden Miller (38 not out) and Christian O’Halloran knuckled down to extend the score to 191 with a crucial 54run stand.
“You could see that despite being a bit scratchy early, when Choc (Miller) gets in there’s not many players that hit the ball as cleanly as he does,” Weigl said.
“Credit to him, he stuck in and didn’t throw it away.
“While Chriso (O’Halloran) showed positive intent, looked to score, and the pair of them ran hard between the wickets.”
Vishesh Malhotra put the game beyond doubt with an unbeaten 19 in just a matter of minutes.
The win puts Lara equal on points with City, a win and percentage from fourth place.
“We just need to win every game put in front of us,” Weigl said.
“We back ourselves to beat South Barwon and St Joeys in the last two games and if we do that we might be able to sneak in.” SRI Lanka pulled off an astounding against-the-odds run chase to beat South Africa by one wicket in the first Test on Saturday.
The Lions had Kusal Perera to thank for his unbeaten 153 as Sri Lanka made a record last-wicket partnership of 78 to clinch the win.
Perera almost singlehandedly won the game, but No. 11 batsman Vishwa Fernando played a crucial role as he hung around for 27 balls for his 6 not out to allow Perera, with nothing to lose, to throw caution to the wind at the other end and ultimately take Sri Lanka charging home.
Chasing an unlikely 304, Sri Lanka was 226-9 and looked out of it at Kingsmead, with the 10th wicket an apparent formality. But Perera and Fernando had other ideas and carried the inexperienced tourists, initially written off, to a thrilling victory on the fourth day.
Even Dale Steyn and topranked test bowler Kagiso Rabada couldn’t break their last stand.
Perera scored 67 of those 78 runs for the last wicket and fittingly won it with a late cut down to the boundary for four, prompting Sri Lankan players to sprint from the dressing room out onto the field to congratulate their matchwinner.
Perera thrust both arms up in the air to celebrate one of the best innings ever by a Sri Lankan, and one of the team’s most remarkable victories.
Perera batted for more than five hours over two days — Sri Lanka was 52-3 when he arrived at the crease — to set up the highest successful run chase ever for Sri Lanka away from home. He hit 12 fours and five sixes in his second test century.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis hailed Perera a “superman” after the win, while Perera claimed “I’m a bit tired now” post-match.