5 most successful 250-plus run chases in Test cricket since 2016

#3 Kusal Perera's heroics leads Sri Lanka to victory: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Durban (2019)

Kusal Perera scored a brilliant 153 in the fourth innings at Durban

Sri Lanka were thrashed by England at home while they lost to Australia and New Zealand away from home. Not many gave them a chance to succeed in the 2-match Test series against South Africa in South Africa.

Sri Lanka in 13 Tests in South Africa had lost 11, won 1 and drawn 1. No Asian team had won a Test series in South Africa.

The first Test at Durban was completely dominated by the hosts until Kusal Perera played a match-winning innings in the fourth innings. The hosts put on 235 on a difficult batting wicket in the first innings and bundled out the visitors for a total of 191. Skipper Faf du Plessis scored an impressive 90 in third innings of the Test as Sri Lanka were left to chase a target of 303 in the fourth innings.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 226 for the loss of 9 wickets when Kusal Perera took charge and started a counter-attack. The last wicket partnership of 78 had Perera taking control of the innings with the number 11 Fernando scoring just 6 runs.

Perera scored an unbeaten 153 which included 12 boundaries and 5 sixes. The strong South African bowling unit comprising of Steyn, Philander, Rabada, Olivier and Maharaj tried all tricks against the aggressive Sri Lankan batsman but were unsuccessful. Perera guided Sri Lanka to a target of 304 almost single-handedly.

Sri Lanka went on to win the second Test in Port Elizabeth too and won the 2 match Test series by a margin of 2-0 and became the first Asian team to beat South Africa in South Africa in a Test series.