Highlights of Kusal Perera's epic 153*: "The greatest innings by a Sri Lankan away from home"
Naturally, Perera’s knock in which he hit five sixes and 12 fours, took twitter by storm with many former cricketers and journalists describing it as one of the best Test innings of the decade.
Chances are not many would have switched on their television sets or even surfed the internet to catch live action of the fourth day’s play between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Durban. And there was enough reason for that. There was a sense of inevitability about the outcome of the Test match. South Africa needed 7 wickets and Sri Lanka 221 runs. Considering the nature of the match pitch and the bowling attack despite Vernon Philander’s absence, scoring seemed difficult of the two. It needed something special or out of the ordinary to turn the tables. It came from Kusal Perera.
Bringing back memories of Brian Lara’s epic knock (153*) against Australia in 1999 at Barbados, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera smashed an unbeaten 153 to lead his side to an amazing one-wicket win. Perera scored 67 of his runs in an unbeaten 78-run last-wicket stand with Vishwa Fernando, which was the highest 10th wicket stand in any form of cricket in a winning effort in fourth innings.
Highlights of Kusal Perera's 153* against South Africa at Durban
Naturally, Perera’s knock in which he hit five sixes and 12 fours, took twitter by storm with many former cricketers and journalists describing it as one of the best Test innings of the decade.
What an amazing win. One of the best if not THE best overseas win by @OfficialSLC Kusal Janith Perera was unreal. Congratulations to the team and @CHathurusinghe keep believing and keep fighting. If you compete for long enough the opportunities to win come your way.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) February 16, 2019
What a beauty !!!! One of the best inings under presure. Showed intelligents and mental strength KJP and very proud of you. 👍👊
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) February 16, 2019
Wow just amazing!! Well done the @OfficialSLC boys on this rare test win away from home👏🏼 Absolutely brilliant!! Love connection with Durban continues for us🙏🏽 kjp, ambul, vishwa outstanding!
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof) February 16, 2019
Wat an inning @KusalJPerera !👏👏 Excellent knock under pressure. Great support by vishwa at the end and Embul by ball in the 2nd inning. Way to go @IamDimuth and team!!
— Danushka Gunathilaka (@danushka_70) February 16, 2019
Thrilled!!!!!!!!😊👏 #SAvSL
Take a bow @KusalJPerera . What a outstanding victory for @OfficialSLC . Congratulations @IamDimuth @NiroshanDikka @KusalMendis1 @CHathurusinghe @Dhananjaya7575 . What a performance by Lasith Abuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando #SLvSA
— Upul Tharanga (@upultharanga44) February 16, 2019
Kusal Perera !!!! WOW .... One of the greatest Test innings of all time .....
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2019
That may be THE GREATEST Test innings by a Sri Lankan ever.
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 16, 2019
Rockstar attack to face down. Impossible odds. Fourth innings. Away from home. Batting with the tail.
Belief. Determination. Skill. Smarts. Those ridiculous sixes.
It ticks every single box.
Kusal Perera.
Did someone say test cricket is dying?? Sri Lanka!!! you beauty, take a bow Kusal Perera and well done to @IamDimuth for a historic win. #SAvSL congrats @RusselArnold69
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) February 16, 2019
Unbelievable, just unbelievable! Sri Lanka square series winning second Test by 1 wicket, last pair adding 84 runs against Steyn, Philander, Rabada, Oliver, Maharaj. Take a bow Kusal Perera, your knock (153 n.o) will rate among the finest in cricket history
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 16, 2019
That was one of the most incredible passages of cricket I've seen. Kusal Perera rockets into the catalogue of greatest Test innings. The record for highest 4th-innings 10th-wicket stand to win a Test has been smashed. Was 57, now 78.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 16, 2019