Oval
Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by 7 runs in the third and last T20 match. The first T20 International match of the year 2025 was very exciting. In this high scoring match, the result of the match had to wait till the last over. New Zealand needed 22 runs to win in the last over. But Sri Lankan bowler Binura Fernando ruined New Zealand’s hopes. Binura spent 14 runs on the last 6 balls of the match. In this match, both the teams together scored 429 runs which included 25 sixes. Despite winning the last T20 match, the Sri Lankan team lost the 3-match series 1-2. In this victory of Sri Lanka, while Binura bowled brilliantly in the last over, Kusal Perera made a splash in batting by scoring a century. Perera became the batsman to score the first international century in the year 2025.
Kushal Perera played a explosive innings in the third T20 match against New Zealand, scoring his first century of the new year. In this inning of 101 runs in 44 balls, he hit 13 fours and 4 sixes. This explosive inning of Perera not only led the team to victory but also broke a 14 year old record.
Let us tell you that the record of the fastest century in T20 International is in the name of Sahil Chauhan of Estonia. Leaving many legends behind, Chauhan played an unbeaten inning of 144 runs, which included 18 sixes and 6 fours.
In the third and last Test match of the series played at Sexton Oval, Nelson, New Zealand won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. Sri Lanka scored 218 runs for 5 wickets on the basis of the first century of Kusal Perera’s T20 International career. Captain Charit Asalanka scored 46 runs in 24 balls while wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis was out after scoring 22 runs. For New Zealand, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Foulkes, Santner and Daryl Mitchell took one wicket each. Perera hit 13 fours and 4 sixes in 46 balls.
New Zealand team could score only 211 runs for 7 wickets
Chasing the target of 219 runs, the New Zealand team could score only 211 runs for 7 wickets. Rachin Ravindra played the highest innings of 69 runs. Opener Tim Robinson was out after scoring 37 runs. Daryl Mitchell returned to the pavilion after playing an innings of 35 runs. Captain Mitchell Santner played an unbeaten inning of 14 runs while Zachary Fox played an unbeaten inning of 21 runs in 13 balls. The opening pair of Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra made a partnership of 81 runs.
The host team’s batsmen could not score 22 runs on 6 balls.
New Zealand needed 22 runs from 6 balls to win. The pair of Mitchell Santner and Zachary Fox were at the crease. Binura Fernando brought the last over of the match. Santner took 2 runs on the first ball of Fernando’s over. One run was scored on the second ball while the next ball was wide. After this, 2 runs were scored on the third legal ball. Fox hit a six on the fourth ball. After this the Kiwi team needed 10 runs from 2 balls. But only two runs could be scored on the last two balls.
Perera’s first T20I century
Kushal Perera batted explosively in the third T20 match against New Zealand. While completing his century in just 44 balls, he hit 13 fours and 4 sixes. During this period his strike rate was 219.56. This is his first century in T20 International, which is also the fastest century for Sri Lanka so far.
Dilshan’s record broken
With this inning, Perera broke the 14 year old record of Tillakaratne Dilshan. Dilshan scored a century in 55 balls against Australia in 2011. Perera has now become the batsman to score the fastest century in T20 for Sri Lanka.
Fastest century in T20I
Estonian batsman Sahil Chauhan broke the record of scoring the fastest century in T20 International cricket by scoring a century in just 27 balls against Cyprus. Chauhan hit 18 sixes and 6 fours in his explosive innings of unbeaten 144 runs in 41 balls. Earlier this record was in the name of Namibia’s John Nicole Lofty-Eaton, who scored a century in 33 balls.
How is Perera’s performance in T20?
After this inning, Perera’s best score has become 101 runs. Perera has played a total of 77 matches so far, and has scored 2056 runs with an excellent strike rate of 134.12.
