Colombo: The Indians continued with their juggernaut in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka as they battered the hosts by 168 runs in the fourth ODI in Colombo on Thursday to strengthen their chances of a whitewash as they went 4-0 up in the five-match series.
Skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made the occasion of MS Dhoni’s 300th ODI a truly memorable one for the former captain as they racked up tons to rack up a huge total of 375/5 in their 50 overs batting first at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who failed to make an impact with the bat in the last match once again was was the first man to be dismissed as Vishwa Fernando sent him back with India at 6/1. Kohli then joined hands with centurion from last match Rohit Sharma and the duo stitched a mammoth 219-run partnership that was all about domination that was just a treat to watch.
Both of them attacked the bowlers and Kohli, especially after failing with the bat in the last two matches made a strong statement as he clobbered the opposition to register his 29th ODI hundred. Rohit Sharma also went on to score his second consecutive ton against the islanders with 104 runs from just 88 balls.
The only moment when the hosts thought that they could make a comeback was when skipper Lasith Malinga dismissed his counterpart for 131 of just 96 balls to take his tally of wickets in ODI cricket to 300. Hardik Pandya, coming in a no.4 chipped in with 19 runs before he and Sharma were dismissed in consecutive deliveries.
While everyone had thought that the carnage was over, Dhoni, playing his 300th ODI continued proving his critics wrong as he hit five fours and one six to play an unbeaten knock of 49, which took him to the top in the list of batsmen with most number of not-outs in ODI history (73).
Manish Pandey, who had replaced the out-of-form Kedar Jadhav too justified his selection as he scored an unbeaten 50 of just 42 balls that consisted of four boundaries.
With momentum on their side, the Indians looked a confident bowling unit as well. Debutant Shardul Thakur, who came in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar drew first blood as he sent back Niroshan Dickwella (14) with just 22 runs on the board.
Kusal Mendis made his way back to the pavilion courtesy a brilliant piece of fielding from KL Rahul who came up with a direct hit to further create inroads into the hosts’ batting line-up. Barring former skipper Angelo Mathews who fought his way to 70 runs from 80 balls, no other Sri Lankan batsman could even cross the fifty-run mark.
Although there were cameos from Milinda Siriwardana (39), Wahidu Hasaranga (22), it wasn’t enough to even get near to the huge Indian total. Sri Lanka were bowled out for a meagre 207 in 42.4 overs as Jasprit Bumrah, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the last match registered figures of 2/32. All-rounder Hardik Pandya too scalped two wickets conceding 50 runs and chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav continued his good form from the West Indies series as he took 2/31 to help India register a thumping win over Sri Lanka.
Brief scores-
India 375/5 (Virat Kohli 131, Rohit Sharma 104; Angelo Mathews 2/24) beat Sri Lanka 207 all out in 42.4 overs (Angelo Mathews 70, Milinda Siriwardana 39; Kuldeep Yadav 2/31) by 168 runs.