After 15 months lay off I am really happy to come back with a half century said Sri Lankan experienced top order batter Kusal Janith Perera after the first T-20 game in Auckland.

As soon as I came back to the team we were able to win this game and it’s special for me. My rhythm is not 100 percent yet but when I play more matches it will improve a lot added Kusal Janith Perera who was at one time Sri Lanka white ball skipper.

All top order batters were among the runs and that paved the way to build up good challenging total at this first T-20 .

Actually my self and Kusal Mendis had a plan to go for the big shots and our target was 200 mark and all plans worked out very well. However during last three overs New Zealand bowlers came back strongly and our run rate slightly went down but Wanindu Hasaranga was on fire to collect quick runs with two huge sixes paved the way to get close to 200 run mark.

Our mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana bowled really well at the super over under pressure and restrict to eight runs of super over was great achievement.Our two batters Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka planned and got a single first and then hit six and four to win the game and that was very positive and looking forward to do well added Kusal Janith Perera who had a shoulder injury and under went surgery and fully recovered to play the game .

When we were scoring very well it makes good confidence and I always keep my strength to play the game. I think my plans were very well executed to make good innings and that is the correct way to build up innings.

“For me, experience means knowing how to handle certain situations. There are a lot of young players in the squad, and what I’ve told them is you have to start learning now how to handle uncomfortable situations. Bowlers aren’t going to bowl how you like, they’re going to analyse you and be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. We need to be smart in those situations.”

When we play overseas its always a challenge. The climate is not an excuse and any team has home advantage and New Zealand has that advantage.

Now we won the first t-20 and we want to plan second game to make good challenge. Winning mentality is good but second game we have to play at a different venue and conditions and we have to adjust and play positively to get good results said Kusal Janith Perera who stroked an unbeaten half century in this game .

The 32 year old left hander Kusal Janith already played 61 T-20 and 107 ODI’s having vast experience and his presence always strength to the Sri Lanka white ball team .The hard hitting stroke maker has ability to accelerate the innings while he occasionally keeps wickets .The former Royal College batsman Kusal Janith Perera has shown his ability before the world cup is a plus point for the SrI Lanka team.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka white ball skipper Dasun Shanaka said this is great pressure to win the first T-20 at the last minute . Actually lot of talks about Sri Lanka batting but our top orders did it well especially Charith Asalanka and Kusal Janith really played very well. I think my players played really well while i thought we were 30 runs short on this track but my team really fought back strongly said skipper Dasun Shanaka. I myself couldn’t score in this game and wanted to get runs in next two games. Two spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Waninidu Hasaranga really performed well and they are outstanding. Actually we are going to win the T-20 series here in New Zealand and looking forward to do well said skipper Dasun Shanaka.