Prasanna walloped five boundaries and nine sixes during his career-best knock of 95

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Kusal Perera smashed a magnificent century and Seekkuge Prasanna blasted a highly entertaining 95 as Sri Lanka annihilated Ireland by 136 runs and whitewashed them 2-0.

Perera and Prasanna were well supported by opener Danushka Gunathilaka and Suranga Lakmal as the former scored 63, while the latter took four wickets.

Being put in to bat first, Perera and Gunathilaka immediately made their presence felt as they amassed a 147-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Gunathilaka was run out by Andy McBrine for 63, which came off 78 balls and included six boundaries and a six.

Perera and Prasanna continued to take the attack to Ireland as they put together a 161-run stand, during which Perera registered third ODI century and Prasanna surpassed his half-century, before Prasanna was clean bowled by Tim Murtagh for 95 off 46 balls, which included five boundaries and nine sixes.

Murtagh struck again just two balls later as he removed Perera after the Sri Lankan opener had scored a career-best 135, which came off 128 deliveries and included 16 boundaries and two sixes.

Perera scored his third ODI century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Dasun Shanaka fell soon after before Farveez Maharoof and captain Angelo Mathews stabilised the innings with a 54-run partnership. Once the stand was ended though, Sri Lanka’s lower order collapsed and they eventually finished on 377/8 off their 50 overs.

Murtagh was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Barry McCarthy snapped up two and McBrine and Boyd Rankin chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 378 to win, many of the Ireland batsmen – Paul Stirling, John Anderson and Stuart Poynter – got off to strong starts, but were unable to convert it into big scores.

McBrine was the only player to break that trend as he hammered a career-best 79, which came off 64 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.

With none of the other Ireland batsmen able to have an impact, the hosts fell well short of their target as they were bowled out for 241.

Lakmal was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Prasanna took two and Mathews, Maharoof, Shanaka and Gunathilaka claimed one wicket each.