Sri Lanka start 2025 with a win – beat New Zealand by 7 runs

• Kusal Perera slams fastest T20I century by a Sri Lankan
• First Sri Lankan to reach 2,000 T20I runs

Kusal Perera slammed the fastest century by a Sri Lankan and skipper Charith Asalanka led his team from the front excelling in all three departments as Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 7 runs in the third and final T20I at Saxton Oval, Nelson yesterday.

It was a consolation win for Sri Lanka and their first in New Zealand since 2006. Sri Lanka had already lost the series to New Zealand after defeats in the first two matches, but nevertheless it was a bright start to the New Year for them.

Put into bat first under overcast conditions Sri Lanka responded in the best possible manner racing to 218-5 riding on Perera’s maiden century and Sri Lanka’s fastest T20I ton coming off 44 balls to beat Tillakaratne Dilshan who got there in 55 balls.

Perera riding his luck after being dropped at 15 and 60 also surpassed Kusal Mendis (15) for the highest number of 50 plus scores in T20I with 16 and also became the first Sri Lankan batsman to reach 2,000 runs in the shortest format.

It was the third century scored by a Sri Lankan in T20Is after Mahela Jayawardene in 2010 and Tillakaratne Dilshan in 2011, and the first, after a gap of 14 years.

Perera struck 13 fours and 4 sixes as he shared a fourth wicket stand of 100 off 44 balls with Asalanka who scored 46 off 24 balls (1 four, 5 sixes) that flattened the New Zealand bowlers and laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s big total.

“It was a wake-up call so I had to back myself and try to execute my normal game,” said Perera after taking the Player of the Match award. “The coach had said ‘once you get a start, you have to finish the game’, that’s why I was trying to do my best.”

On a flat track and small ground New Zealand fancied their chances of chasing down Sri Lanka’s score. Rachin Ravindra who failed in the first two matches came good to hit the ball cleanly in scoring 69 off 39 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) and Daryll Mitchell struck four consecutive sixes off Asalanka to bring New Zealand back into contention.

But then Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner got out in quick succession and Sri Lanka closed the match. The damage was done with the ball by Asalanka who took three crucial wickets after a good opening stand of 81 off 44 balls by Tim Robinson (37) and Rachin Ravindra and held onto a brilliant diving catch to send back Michael Bracewell to cap an excellent match for him.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s two key strikes in one over proved a key factor in Sri Lanka’s win while Nuwan Thushara was superb with his swinging yorkers. Sri Lanka’s win was brought about by brilliant fielding and batting backed up by the bowlers.

Jacob Duffy took the Player of the Series award.

“It’s a good win for us. Throughout the series, we have played good cricket but did not manage to win but today we got it,” said Asalanka. “I was bowling in home conditions, not here. Today we were short of one bowler, that’s the main reason to bowl. It’s a momentum shift for us, adapting to conditions is key to success here. No words to describe Kusal Perera’s innings. It’s since 2013 or something we got a T20I century. We were looking for a hundred and Kusal played amazingly well.”

Binura Fernando who bowled a good tight final over to deprive New Zealand a win said, “KJP is a class act when he gets going, he is unstoppable. I am very happy for him. I hope he can continue this form for the rest of the T20I games we have in 2025.”

Focussing on the win, Fernando said, “We desperately needed a win. It is so good to finish the T20I series with a win. All round it was good cricket. Even New Zealand, they played some proper cricket. We were so happy to be able to pull the game back and as a team get over the line. Both teams were equally balanced. Even in the first game we were so close but we couldn’t make it a win. As a unit we did our homework and it was so good to win this last game. We will take this confidence into the one-day series.”

Sri Lanka and New Zealand will commence a three-match ODI series starting at Wellington on Sunday.