AP, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New ZealandThisara Perera smashed 13 sixes in an astonishing display of power hitting that took Sri Lanka to the brink of a remarkable win over New Zealand yesterday in the second one-day international (ODI). New Zealand were coasting to victory with Sri Lanka at 128-7 in the 27th over after Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 16 runs through the middle of its innings. However, Perera expertly marshaled the Sri Lanka tail, farming the strike to continue an assault that the New Zealand bowlers appeared unable to counter. Perera simply encouraged those batsmen to block out the bowlers until he could get back on strike and take up the contest again. “First off I’m really proud of myself, because it’s my first century,” Perera said.

Source: Taipei Times January 05, 2019 15:56 UTC