INDIA: Virat Kohli hit his 73rd international century, his 45th in ODI after Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India the early impetus with a 143-run opening stand. Sharma and Gill hit a half-century each, giving India and Kohli to build the platform for a run fest.
Virat Kohli’s power-packed century led India towards victory
Cameos from Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul took India to an imposing 373/7 in fifty overs. The Indian pacers controlled the proceedings with the ball early on during the Sri Lankan innings.
However, they lost the plot once the dew factor came in. Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka made most of the situation with a century, but the target was too big in the end.
India Innings
The Indian openers gave India a flying start on the flat pitch at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill hit a half-century, respectively, as the duo stitched together a 143-run stand for the first wicket.
Virat Kohli came in when Dasun Shanaka trapped Gill plumb in front of the stumps. He made most of the platform set up by the openers and notched up his second consecutive ODI century.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul chipped in cameos. However, the Indian lower middle order failed to deliver towards the fag end of the Indian innings. India ultimately fell short of a better score by 10-15 runs after Kohli’s dismissal towards the end of the Indian inning.
India folded up for 373/7 in their quota of 50 overs, with Kasun Rajitha picking up three wickets but giving away 88 runs in his ten overs.
Sri Lanka Innings
Sri Lanka was off to a poor start, losing two wickets early, with Mohammed Siraj dealing the early blows.
A half-century from Pathum Nissanka, who revived the Sri Lankan innings with a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva, was the only notable score from the Sri Lankan top order.
However, the efforts from the duo couldn’t match the requirements to win the match, and Silva lost his wicket as the pressure mounted.
Dasun Shanaka came in at number six for Sri Lanka and took his time to get his eye in. He put together a hundred-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Rajitha, who contributed just four runs to the cause.
Shanaka reached his century with a boundary off Shami in the last over and followed it up with a six, taking his team to 306/8.
India takes a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series after a superb display with the bat. The Indian bowlers, however, left a lot to be desired in the match. Umran Malik showed tremendous pace and picked up three wickets but was wayward in his second spell and was taken for runs by Shanaka.
Virat Kohli received the Player of The Match award for his scintillating inning that was a cornerstone in India’s win.
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