Perera, Prasanna destruct Ireland

DUBLIN, Saturday – An unblemished third ODI century from dashing opener Kusal Perera and some destructive hitting by Seekkuge Prasanna saw Sri Lanka crush Ireland by 136 runs in the second one-day match and take the two-match series 2-0 at Malahide here on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s total of 377-8 after being invited to bat first was the largest ever batting total in an ODI in Ireland. Perera was the base that the other Sri Lankan batsmen played around hitting 16 fours and two sixes in his career best knock of 135 off 128 balls.

Prasanna’s innings was impressive with his destructive hitting, the ball flying everywhere and sometimes making the spectators scamper for cover.

None of the Irish bowlers escaped punishment as Prasanna slammed nine sixes and five fours in his 46-ball innings of 95. Boyd Rankin and Kevin O’Brien leaked over 80 runs in their overs.

Danushka Gunathilaka also contributed with an attractive 63 off 78 balls in an opening stand of 147 with Perera. Prasanna promoted to the role of pinch hitter at the fall of the first wicket then took the game away from the Irish with a partnership of 161 off 92 balls with Perera.

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA INNINGS 
Kusal Perera c Stirling b Murtagh 		       135
Danushka Gunathilaka run out (McBrine)	 		63
Seekkuge Prasanna b Murtabh 				95
Dasun Shanaka c Murtagh b McCarthy 			01
Farveez Maharoof c McBrine b McCarthy	 		29	
Angelo Mathews c Wilson b Rankin 			24
Dinesh Chandimal c Wilson b McCarthy 			03
Kusal Mendis c McCarthy b Murtagh 			08
Upul Tharanga not out 					01
Shaminda Eranga not out 				00
Extras (b 1, lb 8, w 8, nb 1) 				18
TOTAL (8 wickets; 50 overs) 			       377

Did not bat: Suranga Lakmal
Fall of wickets: 1-147 (Gunathilaka), 2-308 (Prasanna), 3-309 (Perera)
		 4-310 (Shanaka), 5-364 (Mathews), 6-368 (Maharoof)
		 7-368 (Chandimal), 8-377 (Mendis)
Bowling: Murtagh 10-1-66-3
	 Rankin 10-0-86-1
	 McCarthy 8-1-52-2
	 O’Brien 8-0-81-0
	 McBrine 10-0-60-1
	 Stirling 4-0-23-0

IRELAND INNINGS 
William Porterfield c Mathews b Lakmal 			08
Paul Stirling c Chandimal b Lakmal 			22
Ed Joyce c Gunathilaka b Maharoof 			09
John Anderson c Mendis b Prasanna 			34
Kevin O’Brien c Maharoof b Shanaka 			12
Stuart Poynter c Gunathilaka b Lakmal 			36
Gary Wilson b Prasanna 					11
Andy McBrine c Mendis b Mathews 			79
Barry McCarthy b Gunathilaka 				05
Tim Murtagh c Mathews b Lakmal 				00
Boyd Rankin not out 					18
Extras (lb 2, w 5) 					07
TOTAL (all out; 45 overs) 			       241

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Porterfield), 2-39 (Stirling), 3-41 (Joyce)
		 4-71 (O’Brien), 5-94 (Anderson), 6-112 (Wilson)
		 7-157 (Poynter), 8-173 (McCarthy), 9-187 (Murtagh)
		 10-241 (McBrine)
Bowling: Lakmal 10-1-38-4
	 Mathews 4-1-34-1
	 Maharoof 10-1-60-1
	 Shanaka 6-0-35-1
	 Prasanna 8-1-32-2
	 Gunathilaka 7-0-40-1