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World Cup, PIX: Rohit, Rahul hit tons as India crush Sri Lanka

July 06, 2019

IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between India and Sri Lanka at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday

IMAGE: India's Rohit Sharma celebrates after scoring his century against Sri Lanka. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

Rohit Sharma became the first player to make five centuries in a single World Cup match and his opening partner KL Rahul also struck a fluent century as India crushed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their final group match at Headingley on Saturday.

India had already qualified for the last four and will finish top of the standings if Australia lose to South Africa in their last group match.

 

Sri Lanka, who failed to reach the semi-finals, slumped to 55-4 in the 12th over before Angelo Mathews smashed his first century in nearly two years to help them to a respectable 264-7.

Rohit and Rahul made mincemeat of the Sri Lankan attack to add 189 runs, the highest opening stand at this World Cup, which effectively settled the match.

Captain Virat Kohli made 34 not out as India romped home with 39 balls to spare for their seventh win in nine matches.

 

IMAGE: KL Rahul looks on as he is caught behind off the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga completed figures of 1-82 in his final World Cup match.

Sri Lanka toiled for 30 overs without success as Rohit and Rahul flayed their attack all round the ground.

Rohit smacked Dhananjaya de Silva for two sixes, the first one bringing up his 50, and reached his third successive hundred with a boundary off Kasun Rajitha.

The disdain they had for the Sri Lanka attack was best illustrated in the ramp shot Rahul played, bending back and lowering himself before guiding the ball over the wicketkeeper's head to the boundary.

Rohit's onslaught ended on 103 when he drove Rajitha to mid-off and Rahul's 111 included 11 fours and a six.

 

IMAGE: Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews celebrates on reaching his century. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Angelo Mathews scored his first century of this year's Cricket World Cup to help Sri Lanka overcome a top-order collapse and post a competitive total of 264 for seven in their final group game against India on Saturday.

Sri Lanka were reeling at 55-4 in the 12th over before Mathews (113) and Lahiru Thirimanne (53) added 124 runs to steady the innings.

Mathews's third one-day international century included 10 fours and two sixes.

 

IMAGE: Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimanne dives to make his ground while snatching a quick run. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

The 32-year-old's knock was a treat to watch as it was a perfect example of how to build an innings after a top-order collapse.

Ravindra Jadeja (1/40 in 10 overs) was given respect and only twice he chanced his arms for two maximums.

Kuldeep Yadav (1/58 off 10 overs), after being dropped against Bangladesh, did not show much improvement as he was bowling too full which both Thirimanne and Mathews found easy to negotiate.

 

IMAGE: India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah celebrates on taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera. Bumrah finished with figures of 3 for 37. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Kuldeep, at the fag end of his spell, did get Thirimanne, who tried to hit the left-arm wrist spinner against the spin.

With Mohammed Shami rested, India played with two seamers. While Bhuvneshwar was picked for special treatment by Mathews and Thirimanne, it was Bumrah, who had given his team initial momentum with two dismissals.

Jasprit Bumrah struck two early blows and returned to dismiss Mathews in his 3-37 for India who have qualified for the semi-finals.

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