RSA VS SL - 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa, 2019

No one gave Sri Lanka a chance at the start of the match.They were battered and bruised by England at home and were smashed by New Zealand and Australia Down Under. But as they say 'Never say Never' in sports. They fought till the final second and found a superhuman in the form of Kusal Perera to guide them home. Let me remind you, this wasn't scripted. But even the great Quentin Tarantino wouldn't have scripted it any better. So, this goes right up there in the list of greatest Test matches played in the century. Trent Bridge (2005), Mohali (2010), Headingley (2017) and Durban (2019). It has been a truly fascinating day of cricket and we wrap up things now. This is Varun Dixit signing off on behalf of Abhinand and Sultan.

Kusal Perera, Man of the Match: I'm still tired now. I don't know what to say. Great effort as a team, specially the lower order batsmen. They gave me good support. I believed in myself and we did. I did my part, winning as a team. We did our homework. This is a special win for us.We did a lot of hard work in previous times.

Karunaratne: It was an awesome game. We knew before coming here that we had a good chance. We have played here in Durban, in 2012 we won a match here. We had a tough series in Australia, but we learnt many things and I knew boys will give their best here in South Africa. We have lost lot of matches in the last few years. It will be good for us and Sri Lankan fans. This is a proud moment for me as a captain and for Sri Lanka. Winning in South Africa is a real proud moment. We were not moving from our places. The dressing room was happy and that's what I want. End of the day, we did a good job here, result is good as well. He (Kusal Perera) batted really well. He is one of the most experienced players in the side. His hundred is incredible, getting a hundred in South Africa is not easy. Two debutants did really well. As a team, we have to play as a unit and give our best.

Faf (2/2): (On losing 5/8) It was strange. We were batting, at that time myself and Vern and the ball was pretty placid. The wicket was slow and made the ball soft. I hit the ball into the paint on the crease, they changed the ball and it started to swing. The swing was what that did us. There's no express pace in the Sri Lankan attack, you'd want to hang around. I thought 300 was enough on this wicket and obviously great batting took it away from us. I'd be lying if I say there wasn't emotions going through me inside. Difficult for a captain, tactically. You want to protect the lead and then also you want to bowl at the tail. They just kept knocking it over. Brilliant bowling from Dale again, Kesh (Maharaj) was brilliant too. He was unlucky today not to get more wickets. Disappointed not to have Vern today conditions wise it was perfect for him. That changed our bowling plan. I'd have backed my team to take 10 wickets. It's disappointing because it's just a 2-match series. We'll most certainly come back stronger.

Faf du Plessis (1/2): Incredible game of cricket, obviously very disappointed being on the losing side. Having gone down to nine wickets and that 60-70 run partnership for the last wicket, it's great for the game of Test cricket. I suppose that's the kind of Test matches you want to see. So, well played to Sri Lanka. Perera was unbelievable, to get 160 (sic) out of that score will take a Superman effort. He deserves all the accolades he will get after this game. The ball swung a bit in both the innings. We were under-par from runs point of view. We were 50 runs short in the first innings and about 30-50 in the second innings. Our bowlers were very good over the last two days.

15:20 Local Time, 13:20 GMT, 18:50 IST: We have seen history unfold today at the Kingsmead in Durban. Sri Lanka won a Test match here almost 7 years ago and they have replicated their effort in a truly sensational fashion. Well, they have only one man to thank: Kusal Janith Perera. He has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. He and the debutant Fernando started off in a fine fashion. But a double strike from Steyn made the Proteas favorites again. At that point, they were 110/5 then Dhananjaya de Silva came in at number 7 and added 96 runs with the southpaw. That partnership was threatening to take the match away from the South Africa. But Maharaj got the wicket of de Silva at the right time and on the next ball, Lakmal edged one to first slip. Sri Lanka were down and out at that stage and they required Perera to play out of his skin. And boy, hasn't he punched above his weight and played an innings to remember for the ages! He held his composure till the very last moment and guided his team home with a truly phenomenal effort. Vishwa Fernando too played a major role as he stayed there for 27 balls and allowed Perera to play his shots from the other end. Hang on for the presentations.

Rabada to Kusal Perera, FOUR, has Kusal Perera done it? Yes, he has! Let me pinch myself, Yes, it's true. It's not a dream folks! We have witnessed a historic Test match. What scenes! What drama! This is Test match cricket at it's very best. The players run onto the field to celebrate. This has to be the Test match of the decade. It was a length delivery and was wide of off, Kusal Perera waits for it in a calm fashion and opens the face of the bat at the last moment to guide it wide of the first slip. The connection was perfect and so was the placement. It runs off the bat and canters to the fence. He notches up his 150 too but that's immaterial for the moment

Rabada to Kusal Perera, leg byes, 2 runs, it was down the leg-side, Kusal Perera clips it fine of fine leg and comes back for a brace. They are 4 away now!

Rabada to Kusal Perera, no run, on a length and on the stumps, Kusal Perera gets behind it and defends it to the off-side

Steyn to Kusal Perera, 1 run, very full and on the stumps, Kusal Perera pushes it to the off-side and takes the single. The perfect result for Sri Lanka. Just one shot away from winning this!

Steyn to Kusal Perera, no run, slower one wide of off, Kusal Perera smashes it to deep backward point

Steyn to Kusal Perera, SIX, if you are anywhere near Kingsmead, get into the ground. We are witnessing something truly incredible there. It was a length delivery on the stumps, Kusal Perera keeps his shape and launches it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Just 7 required now!

Steyn to Fernando, 1 run, they take a single. It was on the stumps, Fernando waits for it to arrive and clips it wide of FSL for a single. Kusal Perera is back on strike and Sri Lanka are just 13 runs away!

Steyn to Fernando, no run, another short of length delivery, it was wide of off, Fernando almost falls as he fends this one. But does enough to survive

Steyn to Fernando, no run, bumper and it was outside off, Fernando was happy to let it go. Come on Steyn, get a fuller one in

Three slips, gully and FSL in for Fernando.

Rabada to Kusal Perera, no run, another short one, this was predictable as they wanted Fernando to be on strike. Kusal Perera couldn't do anything with it as it was too short and he leaves it alone

Rabada to Kusal Perera, no run, short of length delivery down the leg-side, Kusal Perera ducks and lets iy go

Rabada to Kusal Perera, SIX, well, the luck is on Kusal's side too. They say, it favors the brave. And he has been certainly brave. It was banged in half way down the track, Kusal Perera was taken aback by the pace on the delivery, he pulls, it comes off the top-edge and flies over the de Kock's head for a maximum. 14 to win now!

Rabada to Kusal Perera, no run, on a length and on the stumps, Kusal Perera uses straight bat to defend it back