Sri Lanka stun

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning against-the-odds run chase with a record last-wicket partnership of 78 to beat South Africa by one wicket in the first test in Durban yesterday.

Kusal Perera almost singlehandedly won the game with his 153 not out, 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 to guide Sri Lanka home.

Chasing an unlikely 304, the tourists were 226-9 and looked out of it. But Perera and Fernando had other ideas and took the inexperienced Sri Lankans – written off at the start of the series – to a thrilling victory against an attack that included Dale Steyn and topranked test bowler Kagiso Rabada.

Perera scored 67 of those 78 runs for the last wicket and 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 pitch to congratulate their match winner.

Perera removed his helmet and thrust both arms up in the air to celebrate one of the best innings by a Sri Lankan, and one of the team’s most remarkable victories.

It was the 28-year-old’s careerbest score.

Sri Lanka’s 304-9 was the third-highest successful run chase in nearly 100 years of test cricket at Kingsmead – the partnership between Perera and Fernando was a record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership to win a test.

The scintillating victory also gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the short two-test series and ended South Africa’s run of seven straight home series wins.

Sri Lanka had lost their last three series coming into this contest and had two debutants and a new captain for the first test, and two other bowlers with just seven tests between them. Fernando, the unlikely hero with the bat at the end, was one of those two bowlers new to test cricket.

That lineup and recent form meant few people gave the inexperienced visiting team a chance against South Africa, who have won every series they have played at home for the last three years.

Almost nobody thought victory would be possible when South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj had Kasun Rajitha lbw