Rohit Sharma is seeming unstoppable, his strokeplay as fluent as water. And India are reaping its benefits.
Thanks to Rohit and his opening partner KL Rahul, India romped to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday to finish their round-robin stage engagements on a high. With seven wins, India ended on 15 points.
Chasing a target of 265, both Rohit and Rahul got centuries as India won with 39 balls to spare.
Having equalled Kumar Sangakkara with his fourth hundred of this World Cup in the last match, Rohit on Saturday created a league of his own with his fifth century.
For it was not just about runs or record, but also the manner in which he batted. So easy was his strokemaking that it almost seemed to be careless at times. He brought up his fifty with a six over extra cover off Dhananjaya De Silva and his hundred with a pulled boundary through square leg off Kasun Rajitha.
Rohit fell in the 31st over of the innings after making 103 off 94 balls with 14 boundaries and two sixes.
Rahul was not to be left behind, crafting out his maiden World Cup century. Rahul’s 111 came off 118 balls with 11 fours and a six. Together, the two ‘R’s stitched an opening partnership of 189 runs. No one perhaps missed Shikhar Dhawan. Captain Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 34.
Earlier, Angelo Mathews dived deep into his pool of experience to fish out a mature knock and help Sri Lanka escape a crisis.
The all-rounder, who seldom bowls nowadays, played brilliant innings of 113 as Sri Lanka, reduced to 55 for four at one stage, posted 264 for seven.
Mathews was given good support by, first Lahiru Thirimanne (53) and then Dhananjaya de Silva (29 not out).
At one stage, it looked as if the Indian bowlers will run through the Lanka batting line-up, but Mathews and Thirimanne stood up to the challenge. Mathews went on to register his third ODI century and interestingly, all three have now come against India.
For India, a fast and accurate Bumrah picked up three wickets giving away just 37 in his 10 overs.
While it was a memorable day for Rohit, and Bumrah as well, it turned out to be a forgettable outing for their Mumbai Indians teammate Lasith Malinga. The veteran speedster, playing his last World Cup match, conceded 82 runs in his 10 overs with just one wicket to show.
Not all stories have a happy ending.
