Kusal Perera 153*: Sri Lanka’s One-Wicket Win in Durban, 2019
Sri Lanka needed 304 to win against a South African attack that included Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander. With one wicket left they still needed 78.
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Match facts
| Competition | First Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 to 16 February 2019 |
| Venue | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 1 wicket |
The story of the match
Kusal Perera had batted brilliantly to keep the chase alive, but at 226 for 9 the match looked over. The last man in, Vishwa Fernando, was a fast bowler with very little batting experience.
Perera protected Fernando from the strike, hit sixes and fours when he had to, and Fernando kept out every ball he faced. The pair added 78 together, Fernando scoring 6 of them, and Perera finished on 153 not out.
Key moments to watch for
- Sri Lanka set 304
- 226 for 9 with Fernando walking out
- Perera farms the strike
- The last-wicket stand of 78
- Perera’s winning boundary
Why it’s one of the greatest cricket matches ever
It is one of the finest fourth-innings centuries ever played, and it set up a historic series. Sri Lanka won the next Test too and became the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa.
More classic cricket matches
- India vs West Indies: Simmons Stuns Mumbai, 2016 World T20 Semi-Final
- England vs New Zealand: The Tied 2019 World Cup Final
- India vs Sri Lanka: Dhoni’s Six Wins the 2011 World Cup
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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