Lanka Premier League 2023 Qualifier 1: Kusal Perera Does Not Get Player of Match Award Despite Giving Best Performance
Qualifier 1 of the Lanka Premier League between Dambulla Aura and Galle Titans was certainly a great contest. Till the last over, no one was able to guess who was going to win the match. However, somehow due to brilliant batting Dambulla Aura was able to snat
ch the victory from Galle Titans. However, there is no doubt that Kusal Perera was the main pillar of the run chase.
Also read: Three Former Indian Cricketers Who Could Have Seamlessly Integrated into the 2023 World Cup Scenario
Contribution of Kusal Perera
Kusal Perera was certainly the key element of the chase. He was able to guide the team when they were looking under pressure.
- Dambulla Aura had a target of 148 in front of them. They had to ensure that they get a steady start to get to that total. That is what exactly happened for them. They got a quick start of 33 runs in only 3.4 overs.
- The 2nd wicket partnership between Mendis and Perera was a fine short and steady partnership. They took the score to 64.
- Once the score was 64-2, that is when Perera and Kusal Mendis formed a brilliant partnership. This partnership took the score from 64 to 133 runs. This was certainly a brilliant contribution.
- Mendis got out on 49, but Perera continued. He made his team achieve the target with two balls to spare.
- At the end of the match, Parera had a brilliant score of 53 only 39 balls. For that, he scored 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Even after a phenomenal effort of 53 runs on 39 balls, he was not given the Player of the Match award. That was certainly very surprising because it is necessary to ensure that these types of efforts are recognized. At the end, there is no doubt that Kusal Mendis played a brilliant knock and he acted as a pillar. But this cannot be denied, that without Perera’s innings, it had been impossible to win the game.
