Cricket-Perera blasts Sri Lanka to victory in first S.Africa test

Sri Lanka's middle-order batsman Kusal Perera scored a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them to a famous one-wicket win over South Africa in a thrilling first test at Kingsmead on Saturday. Perera was not out on 153, his highest test score, as he put on 78 for the last wicket with number 11 Vishwa Fernando (six not out), taking Sri Lanka to a victory target of 304 that had looked out of sight for much of the innings.

South Africa appeared odds-on for victory when they claimed the ninth Sri Lankan wicket with the score on 226, but Perera launched a brilliant counter-attack with a mix of powerful hitting and intelligent farming of the strike. The win, Sri Lanka's first in any format since October, ends South Africa's run of seven home series victories in a row with the second and final test in Port Elizabeth from Feb. 21-25. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)