How the cricket world celebrated Kusal’s epic ton
After the game Kusal Perera had said that he was very tired
Kusal Perera’s epic knock of 153 not out in Sri Lanka’s thrilling 1-wicket win against South Africa at Kingsmead last week, received high praise from all over the world. Perera not only proved that he is a fitting material for any form of cricket, but also took away a possible and easy win from South Africa, after spending almost five hours and facing 200 deliveries.
The one-of-a-kind knock by Perera was sort of an unexpected shower to the dried out and worn out Sri Lanka cricket fans, but also gave the pressmen from all around the world a worthy story to report on, about the island nation after quite some time.
Some compared Perera to Superman while in the neighbouring India, his batsmanship was weighed against the country’s struggle for independence from the colonial rulers.
“A moment which comes, but comes rarely in history………..”
“These immortal words delivered by Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, in his capacity as the First Prime Minister of an Independent India, at the stroke of midnight of 15th August 1947; aptly describe what has just transpired, a few hours back, at the Kingsmead, Durban which has recently developed into a kind of Achilles heel for the mighty South Africans (they have now lost six of their last eight Tests at the ground). Sri Lanka, who have experienced everything but good in a year or so, hunted down the improbable looking target of 304-runs in the fourth innings of the Test to bring up a sensational win in the Proteas’ own backyard,” India’s sports website cricketsoccer.com reported.
Simon Lewis, the Editor of SA Cricket magazine described Perera’s match-winning innings at Kingsmead as was one of the great moments in Sri Lankan cricket as well as in the history of Test cricket.
“I’ve followed Sri Lanka since their first Test match in 1982. We all know some of the recent stars of Sri Lankan cricket, but in the 1980s Duleep Mendis, Arjuna Ranatunga, Roy Dias, Aravinda de Silva and Sidath Wettimuny were among the first guard of Sri Lanka’s Test batsmen. Wonderful players. They didn’t rock the record books, but they were joyous to watch at the crease, although they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. They fought, they battled and, yes, they lost many matches, but they played with spirit, verve and style. I loved watching them and following their scores in Wisden Cricket Monthly and the newspaper.”
Lewis goes on to say upon observation; “For me personally, Wettimuny’s 190 at Lord’s in 1984 was a turning point for Sri Lankan batting. It proved they could show up when it counted and put serious runs on the board. Ironically, Wettimuny was on hand to present Perera with his Test cap on his debut in 2015, but his career prior to the Durban Test had been underwhelming, averaging 28.53 with just one Test century (against bottom-ranked Test nation Zimbabwe) from 26 innings.”
“Aside from his pair of 50s on his Test debut against India in Colombo, and a century and half-century against Zimbabwe, he hadn’t passed 50 in any of his other Test innings. Kingsmead will, therefore, forever hold wonderful memories for Perera after his two brilliant innings (51 and 153 not out) against the Proteas. These innings came largely out of the blue and against the form book, but that is the beauty of Test cricket. You don’t count your chickens before they have hatched. Anything is possible in cricket … and it is the foolish cricketer who thinks otherwise.”
India’s CNN-news18 reported on Perera’s ‘superhuman effort’ as an all-time Test classic.
“Successful fourth-innings’ chases above 300 are rare. There had been just 30 in Test history before Saturday (February 16). Thus, what Sri Lanka pulled off at Durban – the 31st such chase in Test cricket – was quite extraordinary! This was made possible by the super-human effort by Kusal Perera, who produced the innings of his lifetime to take Sri Lanka to a thrilling one-wicket victory – only their second in 14 Tests in South Africa.”
Meanwhile a number of former cricket greats made use of social media to express their genuine opinions on Kusal Perera’s lone battle against one of the world’s deadliest bowling attacks. Former Sri Lanka captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were quick to send their messages through twitter.
“@KumarSanga2: KJP just scored what could be the greatest innings ever in an overseas run chase by a Sri Lankan batsman. Brings back memories of the brilliant hundred by @MahelaJay against @OfficialCSA in 2006 at The P Sara”
“@MahelaJay: What a beauty !!!! One of the best innings under pressure. Showed Intelligence and mental strength KJP and very proud of you.”
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said on twitter; “@MichaelVaughan: Kusal Perera !!!! WOW …. One of the greatest Test innings of all time …..”
Former India skipper and present Manager of the India cricket team Ravi Shastri said on twitter: “@RaviShastriOfc: Kusal Perera. You beauty. You did it single handedly with a fighter in a number 11. Sri Lanka. You’ve watched one of the greatest innings ever played #Cricket”.
At the same time Indian spinner Ashwin Ravichandran wrote, @ashwinravi99: Did someone say test cricket is dying?? Sri Lanka!!! you beauty, take a bow. Kusal Perera and well done to @IamDimuth for a historic win. #SAvsSL congrats @RusselArnold69″.
The much anticipated Test win not only helped Sri Lanka regain its lost status in the global arena for some extent, but also helped draw an entirely different picture on the Kusal Janith Perera many know.