WI vs SL 2018: Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera Steer Sri Lanka to Level Series

Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsmen, Kushal Perera and Dilruwan Perera put on a luck-filled 63-run partnership to haul the visitors to victory on the fourth afternoon of the third Test against the Windies to level the series at 1-1.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka faced some anxious moments particularly when their best batsman Kusal Mendis was struck in front of the stumps. Although Jason Holder scalped five-wickets at his home ground, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket stand held firm.

Perara after returning from his brief stint in hospital played a measured knock of 28 runs off 43 balls. Dilruwan showcased the fight surviving 68 deliveries, as he staggered to an unbeaten 23. The pair hit only four intentional boundaries, one of them to bring the winning runs.

However, Sri Lanka will take particular satisfaction from this victory, having come in such trying circumstances. Senior batsman, Dimuth Karunaratne missed the game due to injury while Angelo Matthews was back to home citing personal reasons. To make it worse, ICC suspended skipper Dinesh Chandimal for his role in the ball-tampering scandal.

Despite all the odds, fortune helped ease Sri Lanka’s path to victory. Dilruwan could have been out several times with edging many through the slips.

There was little the Windies did wrong on day four. The quicks continued to create opportunities with fielders doing their job perfectly.

Despite some stellar performances by the bowlers, the Perera’s sneaked through runs, while their anxious dressing room looked on. However, the mood immediately changed when the target came down to less than 20.

Kusal and Dilruwan clinched the win and secured a drawn series, but it was the seamers’ outstanding work on day three, in which they dismissed the hosts for 93 in the second innings, that was most instrumental to this victory.

Meanwhile, the visitors managed to post only 154 in reply to Windies 204 runs in the first essay. With this victory, Sri Lanka completes a sequence of four overseas Test tours. Had they no wasted two hours in the second Test, they could have gone back with the trophy.

Brief Score: Sri Lanka 154 (Dickwella 42, Holder 4-19) and 144 for 6 (Kusal Perera 28*, Dilruwan Perera 23*, Holder 5-41) beat West Indies 204 (Holder 74, Dowrich 71, Kumara 4-58) and 93 (Rajitha 3-20, Lakmal 3-25) by four wickets.

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