In-form Kusal Janith Perera cracked his second consecutive ton to help Sri Lanka A take an unassailable lead of 2-0 against Pakistan A in their 3-match unofficial ODI series when they beat the visitors by 7 runs (D/L method) at Hambanthota International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old left-handed basher struck his 4th List A ton to guarantee a place in the national team for the incoming Pakistan team in June. Perera had serious issues with his batting at the top when he continuously failed to convert his blazing starts to big knocks but these two knocks clearly suggests otherwise.
Pakistan A skipper Fawad Alam won the toss and elected to field. The Lankan opening duo of Kusal Janith Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya got their team to a flying start adding 57 runs before Jayasuriya fell to the bowling of Tabish Khan for 21. Danushka Gunathilake joined Kusal and they constructed another productive stand of 77 runs before Gunathilake was caught by Khurram Manzoor off Zafar Gohar. Perera continued to punish the in-experienced Pakistani bowlers as he scored a run-a-ball 110 with 15 fours and 2 sixes.
The dismissals of Kusal Janith and skipper Ashan Priyanjan (25) dented the Lankan charge in the late overs but Asela Gunaratne’s 15-ball 23 took Sri Lanka A to a commanding score of 265 for 9 in 50 overs. Tabish Khan and Zia-Ul-Haq took 3 wickets apiece for the visitors.
The rain during the lunch break brought down the deficit to 221 runs in 40 overs and the Pakistani openers got the chase into full gear with Mukhtar Ahmed and Israrullah smashing 49 in just 5.5 overs but the right-arm speedster Dushmantha Chameera bowled with great venom and control as he removed both the openers with the score on 54.
Pakistan needed some inspiration in their batting and it came from Fawad Alam and Khurram Mansoor as both experienced campaigners were involved in a 135-stand for the 3rd wicket which brought them closer to the target. Fawas struck 65 in just 74 balls with 7 fours while Mansoor made a steady 69.
Off-spin twins, Shehan Jayasuriya and Tharindu Kaushal ripped through the visitors’ middle order with their canny bowling. The 22-year old Kaushal took both wickets of Alam and Mansoor apart of Saad Nasim. Sri Lanka A bowled deceitfully in the death overs to not let Pakistan A get away with a victory.
Sri Lanka A will now aim for the series whitewash when they clash for the 3rd one-dayer on 2nd May at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka A – 265/9 in 50 overs: Kusal Janith Perera 110, Shehan Jayasuriya 21, Dhanushka Gunathilake 33, Ashan Priyanjan 25, Mir Hamza 2/49, Tabish Khan 3/55, Zia-ul-Haq 3/66.
Pakistan A – 213/7 in 40 overs: Khurram Manzoor 69, Fawad Alam 65, Israrullah 29, Tharindu Kaushal 3/44, Shehan Jayasuriya 2/31, Dushmantha Chameera 2/36.
