On This Day in 2019: Kusal Perera’s 153* Stuns South Africa in Durban Thriller

On February 16, 2019, Test cricket witnessed one of its most breathtaking finales at Kingsmead. In a match that seemed destined for South African dominance, Kusal Perera rewrote the script with a counterattacking masterpiece that has since become folklore in the longest format of the game.

Chasing 304 against a formidable bowling attack, Sri Lanka national cricket team found themselves teetering at 226 for 9. The odds were overwhelming. Standing in their way were some of the most feared names in world cricket, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Duanne Olivier, and Keshav Maharaj. It was a bowling unit built to crush resistance, especially on a surface offering pace and bounce.

But Perera had other ideas.

When last man Vishwa Fernando walked in, Sri Lanka still needed 78 runs. Conventional wisdom suggested the end was imminent. Instead, what followed was an exhibition of fearless strokeplay and icy composure. Perera farmed the strike intelligently, attacking anything remotely loose and counterpunching even the best deliveries. Boundaries flowed through covers, midwicket, and square leg. He was not merely surviving; he was dictating terms.

Fernando’s role, though often overshadowed, was equally heroic. Displaying immense grit, he defended resolutely and trusted his senior partner. Together, they stitched an unbroken 78-run stand for the final wicket, a partnership that shifted from improbable to legendary with every passing over.

Perera’s unbeaten 153 remains one of the finest fourth-innings centuries in Test cricket history. His innings combined aggression with calculation, courage with clarity. Against Rabada’s hostility and Steyn’s experience, he refused to retreat. Against spin, he advanced fearlessly. Each run chipped away not just at the target but at South Africa’s belief.

The victory marked the 13th one-wicket win in Test history and only the third successful 300-plus chase at Kingsmead. For Sri Lanka, it was more than just a win, it was a defining overseas triumph against the South Africa national cricket team, on one of their toughest fortresses.

In a format often romanticised for patience and endurance, Perera’s innings was a reminder that audacity can be just as powerful. It was reminiscent of the greatest rearguard efforts the game has ever seen, a performance that transcended statistics and became pure theatre.

Years later, the Durban miracle still stands as a testament to belief under pressure. On this day, cricket reaffirmed why Test matches remain unmatched for drama. When hope seemed extinguished, one man dared to attack and in doing so, created immortality.