07 March,2018 08:27 AM IST | Colombo | Anand Vasu
Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera in full flow against India in Colombo yesterday. Pic/PTI
The man they call the second Sanath Jayasuriya, Kusal Perera, has already faced some dark times in his five-year-old career. Suspended by the International Cricket Council for failing a dope test, Perera was forced to miss nearly six months of cricket before he successfully challenged the findings. When the ICC admitted its laboratory error, they issued a statement saying: "We wish to make it clear that there is no evidence that Mr Perera has ever used performance-enhancing substances."
It has been two years since Perera's good name was cleared, and yesterday, India felt the full fury of his scything bat as he crashed 66 from only 37 balls to cut the target of 175 that India had set down to size. Perera, who hit cleanly through off and on, and over the top, had four sixes and six fours to his name when he was finally dismissed. By then, the damage was done. India tried hard, but they could not stop Sri Lanka from getting across the line with five wickets and nine balls to spare.
That India could even mount such a strong fight was down to Shikhar Dhawan (90). Coming into the game with scores of 72, 24 and 47 in the T20Is he played in South Africa, Dhawan kept up the good work even as India had a horror start.
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Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma lofting over mid-off, watched with a mixture of horror and admiration as Jeevan Mendis made good ground, kept his eye on the ball and dove full length to pick up a stunning catch. Rohit's duck was followed swiftly by Suresh Raina's departure, clean bowled playing all around a full one from Nuwan Pradeep.
From 9-2, India were lifted to 104 by Dhawan and Manish Pandey. Dhawan first went past his best T20I score of 80 and then became the Indian with the highest T20I score in Sri Lanka, bettering Virat Kohli's 82 that was made last year. Even with Yuzvendra Chahal (2-37) bowling well, there was enough room for Sri Lanka to manoeuvre, and for that they had Perera to thank.
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