Thisara blitz consolation for SL as New Zealand seal the series
05/01/2019
An innings to cherish for a lifetime from Thisara Perera proved all in vain as New Zealand secured a 21 run victory in the 2nd ODI at Mount Maunganui.
74 deliveries, 13 sixes and 8 fours for his 140, Thisara Perera showed the world what he really is. So much talk about him conceding 34 in the last match, so much talk about his inconsistency, but he replied in his own way. Sri Lanka were down and out after losing 5 wickets for just 16 runs after another middle order collapse.
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Thisara was stranded with the tail and boy did he take the match by the scruff of its neck and turn it around. Early on, Dhanushka Gunathilaka showed his class at the top with a well-constructed knock of 71 runs. Apart from Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan top order failed and they’ll be kicking themselves for not doing more after what they witnessed at the end.
Ish Sodhi was the chief destroyer with 3 for 55 in the middle overs. James Neesham and Matt Henry chipped in with 2 wickets.
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Early on, Sri Lanka started off well after Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first. Both Williamson and Guptil fell in quick succession but a 112-run partnership between Colin Munro and Ross Taylor took the hosts to a commanding position at the halfway mark.
Both batters had chances of reaching triple figures, but were run out by some smart fielding. Sri Lanka bowled well compared to the other day but in some parts of the game they were unable to control the run flow and most importantly they were unable to chip away with the wickets.
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The demons from the previous match came back to haunt Thisara Perera when James Neesham took him for 20 runs in the 47th over but he was run out in the next over for a well-made 64.
Lasith Malinga was once again leading from the front with the ball as he ended up with figures of 2 for 45. He also was proactive in the field especially with his field settings.
The third and final ODI will be held on the 7th of January.