History! Veteran Batter Becomes First-Ever Sri Lankan To Score 2000 T20I Runs

Sri Lanka cricket finally records a player with 2000 T20I runs, and the feat has been achieved by THIS player during NZ Vs SL 3rd T20I. Details below.

Kusal Perera achieved the historic feat during the third T20I against New Zealand on Thursday

Source : @X/ThePapareSports

Kusal Perera etches his name in the history books by becoming the first-ever batsman from Sri Lanka to score 2000 T20I runs. The veteran left-handed batsman achieved the feat during his side's 3rd and final T20I vs New Zealand at Saxton Oval on Thursday.

The closest batsman to 2000 runs for Sri Lanka in T20Is is now Kusal Mendis, as the fellow team-mate of Kusal Perera failed to click in the 3rd T20I, and currently sits at 1920 runs in the format.

Here is the list of highest run-scorers for Sri Lanka in T20Is:

1. Kusal Perera: 2056 runs
2. Kusal Mendis: 1920 runs
3. Tillakaratne Dilshan: 1889 runs
4. Pathum Nissanka: 1734 runs
5. Mahela Jayawardene: 1493 runs

Sri Lanka, inspite of being a world champion once, and a runner-up as well in T20Is, do not boast impressive individual stats, especially in batting, given that the side, back in the days, relied on overall team output, and are currently going through a slump in form across all formats from past couple of years.

New Zealand Set To Chase 219 To Complete Clean-Sweep

New Zealand were poor in the field out there, as sloppy efforts in catching proved too costly for the home side, with Kusal Perera going on to make a ton.

The bowlers also were way off the mark in their precision with line and length, and the Kiwi batters now have a hefty task of pulling off a huge chase to register a T20I series whitewash over Sri Lanka.

Kusal Perera's 101 was well-complemented by a quickfire 46-run knock from skipper Charith Asalanka. Inspite of leaking a lot of runs, New Zealand bowlers did well to contain the amount of extras conceded, with them giving away only 4 wides, 1 no-ball, and 1 leg-byes throughout the 1st innings.

Five Kiwi bowlers managed to open their account for wickets, as they shared a wicket-each, with Jacob Duffy recording the best economy rate amongst bowlers who bowled their full quota of overs.