Cricket fraternity lauds ‘unreal’ Kusal Janith Perera after his match-winning 153*

Kusal Perera carried Sri Lanka to a sensational one-wicket win on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday as he hit a career-best 153 not out. (ALSO READ: Cricket fraternity lauds ‘unreal’ Kusal Janith Perera after his match-winning 153*)

Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on an unbeaten 78 in a last-wicket partnership to secure only Sri Lanka’s second win in 14 Test matches in South Africa.

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Here’s how twitter reacted:

What an amazing win. One of the best if not THE best overseas win by @OfficialSLC Kusal Janith Perera was unreal. Congratulations to the team and @CHathurusinghe keep believing and keep fighting. If you compete for long enough the opportunities to win come your way.

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) February 16, 2019

What a win by @OfficialSLC @IamDimuth well led.outstanding by @KusalJPerera abuldeniya and everybody chipped in👏👏👏great team effort

— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) February 16, 2019

Surely a decent argument to be made that Kusal Perera has just knocked off Brian Lara for the greatest 153* of all time. #SAvSL

— Copernicus Cricket (@HeliocentCric) February 16, 2019

Kusal Perera !!!! WOW …. One of the greatest Test innings of all time …..

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2019

Congrats big time to @OfficialSLC & loads to Kusal Perera for fabulous historic victory over @OfficialCSA there in the ‘Rainbow Nation’ 👏💥😎#lovetheunderdogwin 😄

— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) February 16, 2019

Things I love about small town cricket leagues #13 nobody else was watching the #SAvSL test match in Durban, and I don’t have to dodge too many tough questions on the SL win! Well played @OfficialSLC

— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) February 16, 2019

One of the best test innings I have ever seen, well done Kusal Janith continue this superb form 👏👏👏👏👏

— Rangana Herath (@HerathRSL) February 16, 2019

Has to be one of the all time great innings that from Kusal Perera! Great for him, great for Test cricket! Wow! What a result!
👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏#SLvsSA

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 16, 2019

At an event so missed the South Africa -Sri Lanka test. Surely Kusal Pereira's innings has to be among the greatest in 4th innings run-chases.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 16, 2019

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. #SAvSL congrats @RusselArnold69

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 16, 2019

Well played Kusal Perera and @OfficialSLC 👏🏻👏🏻that was a knock for the ages. Gripping test cricket. Gosh I hope test cricket continues to be this good all year as we’ve seen in the last three weeks.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) February 16, 2019

A very big well done and a well played to Kusal Perera. Impressed with his effort and commitment. The only batsmen to stand up to the South African quicks in both innings.

— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) February 16, 2019

Victory seemed unlikely when the ninth wicket fell with the total on 226, with the tourists chasing a target of 304.

But the left-handed Perera successfully farmed the strike, with South African captain Faf du Plessis persisting with wide-spread fields for the in-form batsman, while Fernando only had to face 27 balls during a 96-ball partnership.

Perera was on 86 when the ninth wicket fell but managed to keep most of the strike and to hit some telling blows in an innings of 200 balls which included 12 fours and five sixes.

“It was a superman effort,” said Du Plessis. “He (Perera) deserves all the accolades.”