Kusal Perera scored Sri Lanka’s fastest Twenty20 international century from just 44 balls, leading his team to a thrilling seven-run victory over New Zealand on November 2, 2023. This remarkable achievement not only propelled Sri Lanka to 218-5 but also marked their first win of the series, preventing New Zealand from achieving a clean sweep.
Perera’s explosive performance, totaling 101 runs off 46 balls including 13 fours and 4 sixes, showcased his exceptional talent and determination. The match took place at Nelson, where Sri Lanka batted first, having struggled throughout the series to secure wins after losing the first two matches by eight and 45 runs, respectively.
New Zealand needed to reach their highest ever T20 chase to win the series, starting strong with Rachin Ravindra’s compelling 69 off 39 balls. The Black Caps managed to reach 60-0 during the power play, creating hopes for their fans. Yet, things turned dramatically when Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka took charge with remarkable bowling, dismissing Ravindra and claiming two more quick wickets. His final figures of 3-25 highlighted his pivotal role on the day.
Perera’s inning was also notable for its inherent drama—he survived two dropped catches early on, once at 15 and then again at 60, before being caught off Daryl Mitchell's bowling. His partnership of 100 runs with captain Charith, who scored 46 runs off 24 balls, was integral to Sri Lanka's total, holding the innings together amid shaky starts with their openers lost inside the power play.
After the game, Perera reflected with enthusiasm, stating, "Scoring a hundred is always special. When I went to bat, I got a wake-up call on the first ball and it was good to get on from there.” This mindset reflects the resilience required to excel, especially when conditions favor fast bowlers, as he noted the challenges presented by the New Zealand tracks.
Charith also expressed his relief and excitement over the victory, noting, "I think it's a good win for us. I think throughout the series we've played good cricket but couldn't manage to get a win. Finally, we got it. I hope this is a momentum shift for us." His optimism is palpable, aiming to carry this positive energy forward as the teams prepare for the upcoming ODI series, with the first match scheduled for Wellington on Sunday.
The match concluded with New Zealand falling just short, ending at 211-7. Even with Daryl Mitchell’s brief but fiery knock—hitting four sixes off one over—Sri Lanka’s bowlers managed to hold their nerves, ensuring victory with Binura Fernando bowling the last over, eventually limiting New Zealand’s efforts to just three runs when 10 were needed from the final two balls.
This game marks Sri Lanka's first T20I win on New Zealand's soil since 2006, making the victory even sweeter for the team and their supporters. While the series score stood at 2-1 favoring New Zealand, this hard-fought win imparts hope and confidence to the Sri Lankan team as they transition to the One-Day format.