Prasanna, Perera make it 2-0 for Sri Lanka

Kusal Perera’s century and Seekuge Prasanna’s 95 off just 46 balls propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding 136-run win in the second One-Day International against Ireland at Malahide on Saturday (June 18), giving the visiting side a 2-0 series win, after winning the first match by 76 runs.

Perera hit 135 off 128, his highest ODI score, at the top of the order, while Prasanna blazed away at No.3 to also register a personal ODI best as Sri Lanka powered to 377 for 8. Ireland’s reply ended at 241 all out in 45 overs, with Suranga Lakmal netting 4 for 38.

Sri Lanka had been sent in to bat by William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, and each of the top three came good. Prasanna, promoted to a pinch-hitting role following a first-wicket stand of 147 between Perera and Danuska Gunathilaka (63 off 78), took full advantage to leave behind his previous best score of 42 with a superb display of hitting.

He was dismissed five runs short of a deserved century having hit nine sixes and five fours in his innings, while dominating a second-wicket stand of 161 with Perera that came off just 93 balls.

Perera reached his second ODI hundred from 105 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, and added another 35 runs before he was caught at midwicket off Tim Murtagh, the paceman who also plays for English county side Middlesex.

Even after Perera was dismissed, Sri Lanka were 309 for 3 with eight overs remaining and looked on course for a total of 400 with Dasun Shanaka and the recalled Farveez Maharoof in the middle.

But Shanaka was unable to repeat his heroics from his ODI debut on Thursday and was dismissed second ball for 1, and Maharoof, who replaced Dhananjaya de Silva in one of two Sri Lanka changes – Lakmal also came in for Nuwan Pradeep – fell to Barry McCarthy, the seamer.

McCarthy, 23, in only his second ODI, was Ireland’s most impressive bowler, finishing with 2 for 52.

By contrast Boyd Rankin, in his first home series for five years after appearing for England, finished with 1 for 86 from his 10 overs. Rankin struck as Ireland clawed back some ground by taking four wickets for 13 runs in the last three overs, but by then the damage had long since been done.

Facing a tall chase, Ireland’s innings never got off the ground, with Porterfield falling for just 8 in the seventh over. Led by Lakmal, Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck regularly, and Ireland were soon reduced to 112 for 6. Andy McBrine hit a defiant 79 off 64 from No.8 to ensure a respectable total, but he had little support from the rest of the batting line-up, with Stuart Poynter’s 36 the next best score.

McBrine was the last man dismissed, pulling Angelo Mathews, the captain, to Mendis at deep midwicket to ensure every Sri Lankan bowler who turned his arm over had at least a wicket to show. Prasanna completed a fine all-round day with 2 for 32 off eight overs.

Sri Lanka will now take on England in a five-match ODI series, with the first game scheduled for June 21 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Their tour will conclude with a lone Twenty20 International on July 5.

Please click here to review the match in full in the ICC Match Centre