Perera fireworks light up Sri Lanka as Kiwis seal ODI series
TAURANGA, New Zealand (Reuters) - Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera’s blistering century ended up in vain as New Zealand sealed a 21-run victory in the second one-day international on Saturday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, New Zealand built on fine half-centuries by Colin Munro (87), Ross Taylor (90) and James Neesham (64) to post a commanding 319 for seven total in 50 overs at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claimed three wickets for 55 runs as the hosts reduced Sri Lanka to 128-7, before Perera took matters into his own hands with a flurry of big hitting en route to his maiden ton that ensured a thrilling end to the contest.
The 29-year-old gave New Zealand an almighty scare, smashing 13 sixes and eight boundaries in a 74-ball 140, before he became the final wicket to fall, dismissed by pace bowler Matt Henry.
Opener Danushka Gunathilaka was the only other Sri Lankan batsman to make a notable contribution, scoring 71.
New Zealand won the first match of the series at the same venue by 45 runs on Thursday, with the third and final contest taking place at Nelson on Tuesday.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand 1st innings Martin Guptill c Niroshan Dickwella b Lasith Malinga 13 Colin Munro Run Out Kusal Perera 87 Kane Williamson c Lakshan Sandakan b Nuwan Pradeep 1 Ross Taylor Run Out Lakshan Sandakan 90 Henry Nicholls c Niroshan Dickwella b Lasith Malinga 32 Jimmy Neesham Run Out Nuwan Pradeep 64 Tim Seifert Run Out Thisara Perera 22 Tim Southee Not Out 1 Extras 4b 2lb 0nb 0pen 3w 9 Total (50.0 overs) 319-7 Fall of Wickets : 1-34 Guptill, 2-39 Williamson, 3-151 Munro, 4-208 Nicholls, 5-262 Taylor, 6-302 Neesham, 7-319 Seifert Did Not Bat : Henry, Sodhi, Boult Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Lasith Malinga 10 0 45 2 4.50 Nuwan Pradeep 9 0 59 1 6.56 Danushka Gunathilaka 1 0 10 0 10.00 Thisara Perera 7 0 69 0 9.86 2w Lakshan Sandakan 10 0 56 0 5.60 1w Seekkuge Prasanna 5 0 34 0 6.80 Asela Gunaratne 8 0 40 0 5.00 ................................................................ Sri Lanka 1st innings Niroshan Dickwella b Tim Southee 9 Danushka Gunathilaka c Tim Seifert b Jimmy Neesham 71 Kusal Perera c Trent Boult b Matt Henry 4 Kusal Mendis c Tim Seifert b Ish Sodhi 20 Dinesh Chandimal b Ish Sodhi 3 Asela Gunaratne Run Out Jimmy Neesham 6 Thisara Perera c Trent Boult b Matt Henry 140 Seekkuge Prasanna b Ish Sodhi 0 Lasith Malinga b Trent Boult 17 Lakshan Sandakan c Ross Taylor b Jimmy Neesham 6 Nuwan Pradeep Not Out 3 Extras 0b 6lb 0nb 0pen 13w 19 Total (46.2 overs) 298 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-28 Dickwella, 2-63 Perera, 3-112 Mendis, 4-116 Gunathilaka, 5-121 Chandimal, 6-128 Gunaratne, 7-128 Prasanna, 8-203 Malinga, 9-254 Sandakan, 10-298 Perera Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Trent Boult 10 1 61 1 6.10 3w Tim Southee 8 0 68 1 8.50 4w Matt Henry 9.2 1 52 2 5.57 2w Kane Williamson 2 0 8 0 4.00 Ish Sodhi 10 1 55 3 5.50 2w Jimmy Neesham 7 0 48 2 6.86 2w .................................. Umpire Richard Illingworth Umpire Shaun Haig Video Paul Wilson Match Referee Richard Richardson
