Perera blasts Sri Lanka to win in first S. Africa Test
Tourists lead two-match series 1-0
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson bats during the One Day International cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh in Christchurch, New Zealand on Feb 16. (AP) DURBAN, Feb 16, (RTRS): Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsman Kusal Perera scored a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them to a famous one-wicket win over South Africa in a thrilling first Test at Kingsmead on Saturday.
Perera was not out on 153, his highest Test score, as he put on 78 for the last wicket with number 11 Vishwa Fernando (six not out), taking Sri Lanka to a victory target of 304 that had looked out of sight for much of the innings.
South Africa appeared odds-on for victory when they claimed the ninth Sri Lankan wicket with the score on 226, but Perera launched a brilliant counter-attack with a mix of powerful hitting and intelligent farming of the strike.