MALAHIDE (IRELAND) - Kusal Perera's century propelled Sri Lanka to an imposing total of 377 for eight in the second one-day international against Ireland at Malahide on Saturday.
Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Perera talks during a press conference in Colombo, on May 12, 2016
Perera's innings of 135 was his highest ODI score and Seekkuge Prasanna also produced a personal best at this level in making 95.
Sri Lanka, as in their 76-run win in the first of this two-match series at Malahide on Thursday, were sent into bat by Ireland captain William Porterfield.
Prasanna, promoted to a pinch-hitting role at number three following a first-wicket stand of 147 between Perera and Danuska Gunathilaka, 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 faced just 46 balls with nine sixes and five fours. Prasanna dominated a second-wicket stand of 161 with Perera which took 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 mid-wicket off paceman Tim Murtagh, who plays for English county side Middlesex.
Even after Perera was dismissed, to leave Sri Lanka 309 for three with eight overs remaining, the tourists were on course for 400 with Dasun Shanaka and the recalled Farveez Maharoof in the middle.
But Shanaka was unable to repeat his heroics from Thursday and was dismissed second ball for one, and Maharoof, who replaced Dhananjaya de Silva in one of two Sri Lanka changes –- Suranga Lakmal also came in for Nuwan Pradeep –- fell to Barry McCarthy.
The 23-year-old seamer, in only his second international, was Ireland’s most impressive bowler, finishing with two for 52.
By contrast Boyd Rankin, in his first home series for five years after appearing for England, finished with one 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.