Despite playing a superb saviour knock of 61 runs, Kusal Perera finished for the losing side as Bangladesh won the important T20I match to enter for the final of 2018 Nidahas Trophy. Despite as a host side, Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final of this T20I tri-series. Perera praised Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah for his extraordinary match-winning knock to qualify for the final and also regretted his team’s defeat.

After Bangladesh sent them to bat first, Sri Lanka once went down on 41/5. From that situation, Kusal Perera and skipper Thisara Perera put a brilliant 97-runs partnership for the sixth wicket which helped Sri Lanka to put a respected and fighting total on the board (159/7 in 20 overs).

While Kusal scored 61 runs, the captain Thisara Perera scored 58 runs.

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Bangladesh was replying very well but regular wickets falling kept them always under the pressure. Mahmudullah played a magnificent 43-runs innings off just 18 balls and led his nation to a memorable victory. At a time, Bangladesh needed 12 runs in just 4 balls which Mahmudullah made in just three deliveries. Bangladesh won that match by 2 wickets with just one ball to spare.

At the post-match press conference, Kusal Perera lauded on Mahmudullah for his brilliant match-winning knock. Kusal said to him, “He’s a very experienced batsman. He knows what the situation is. He kept rotating the strike and took some calculated risks at the right times. He used his experience and that’s the main thing.”

Kusal felt that the 160 was the good target but Bangladesh chased well at the end. He commented, “In the first few overs, they bowled really well and we lost a couple of wickets. But Thisara and I batted a few overs and we recovered really well. I think this wicket was turning a bit and on the slow side, and we felt 160 was a good score but they chased well.”

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He also spoke about the last-over controversial moment, where Bangladesh claimed the no-ball after the second ball due to the second bouncer of that over but umpires dismissed that. As a result, once Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan instructed his players to come off the field. However, later the match restarted where Bangladesh snatched that special victory.

Talking about that incident, Kusal said, “I think the head umpire, he didn’t call the first bouncer. So that’s a legal delivery. I didn’t see the umpire calling one bouncer, that’s up to them.”

Kusal Perera was in a very good form with the bat during the series. He is currently the most runs scorer in this series with total 204 runs (average 51.00). He scored three half-centuries in this T20I tri-series out of his four matches.

While he is happy with his performance, feeling regret for his team’s disappointing performances in this tri-series. He said, “In the tournament, I did really well, but obviously I would like to be in the winning team whether I’m performing or not.”