Mount Maunganui: A rollicking maiden century by Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera (140, 74b, 8×4, 13×6) was ultimately in vain as New Zealand wrapped up the ODI series with a 21-run victory in the second ODI here, Saturday.
With Sri Lanka chasing New Zealand’s 319/7, they were on the ropes at 128/7 when Perera opened up. After demolishing the Kiwi bowlers all around the park, he was the last wicket to fall and Sri Lanka were out for 298 with 22 balls remaining.
Sri Lanka reached 112 for two when Ish Sodhi (3/55) captured the wicket of Kusal Mendis (20) to trigger a collapse which saw five wickets fall in six overs. But Perera refused to give up as he bludgeoned the New Zealand attack with brute force.
He made 58 in a 75-run stand with Lasith Malinga for the eighth wicket, and scored 45 of the 51 runs for the ninth wicket with Lakshan Sandakan.
But, when a seemingly impossible victory seemed to be on cards Matt Henry (2/52) had Perera caught by Trent Boult at long-on. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka (71, 73b, 9×4) played his part at the top of the order but elsewhere the Sri Lankan batsmen failed to fire.
It continued a dismal tour for Sri Lanka who also lost the Test series 0-1 and lost the first ODI by 45 runs. When New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, Sri Lanka had their tails up when they removed first-match centurion Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson cheaply to have New Zealand at 39 for two.
But Ross Taylor (90, 105b, 4×4, 1×6) and Colin Munro (87, 77b, 12×4, 2×6) swung momentum New Zealand’s way with a 112-run stand for the third wicket, while all-rounder James Neesham (64, 37b, 5×4, 3×6) lit up the tail with a whirlwind knock.
Brief scores: New Zealand 319/7 (Ross Taylor 90, Colin Munro 87, James Nisham 64) bt Sri Lanka 298 (Thisara Perera 140, Danushka Gunathilaka 71; Ish Sodhi 3/55) by 21 runs.
