SRI Lanka’s preparations for the upcoming one-day internationals against England continued in fine style as Kusal Perera’s century helped the tourists to a 136-run victory over Ireland.
After Angelo Mathews’ men won the first game in the two-match series by 72 runs, they again piled up a massive score to give Ireland little chance of victory in Malahide.
Perera’s 135 featured 18 boundaries as Sri Lanka put 147 on the board for the opening wicket before Danushka Gunathilaka (63) was run out by Andy McBrine.
The day went from bad to worse for Ireland’s bowlers, however, as Seekkuge Prasanna hammered a brutal 95 from just 46 balls – clearing the ropes nine times – to put Sri Lanka in a virtually unassailable position.
Cameos by Farveez Maharoof (29) and Mathews (24) led Sri Lanka to 377-8 from their 50 overs, with Tim Murtagh’s 3-66 the best of a rotten bunch of bowling figures for the associate outfit.
Suranga Lakmal (4-38) removed openers Will Porterfield (8) and Paul Stirling (22) to put Sri Lanka further in control, with only John Anderson’s 34 providing resistance in the middle order.
Number eight McBrine made a breezy 79, including a pair of sixes, to add an air of respectability to the result, before he was caught by Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Mathews, leaving Ireland all out for 241 and giving Sri Lanka a 2-0 series win ahead of their first game against England, at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.(Omnisport.com).