Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

India opener Rohit Sharma hammered 264 runs, which is the highest ODI score in history, to help his side annihilate Sri Lanka by 153 runs in the fourth ODI in Kolkata.

Sharma was well supported by captain Virat Kohli, who scored an entertaining 66.

However, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne both deserve some credit for their valiant half-centuries.

Kohli would have been pleased with his decision to bat first since India got off to a solid start before Ajinkya Rahane was given out lbw off the bowling of Mathews for 28.

Ambati Rayudu only made eight runs before he was clean bowled by Shaminda Eranga.

Sharma and Kohli gave India the upper hand with a 202-run partnership, during which Sharma brought up his fifth ODI century and Kohli his half-century, before Kohli was run out by Seekkuge Prasanna for 66 off 64 balls, which included six boundaries.

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Suresh Raina made 11 runs before he was caught by Mahela Jayawardene off the bowling of Mathews.

Sharma and Robin Uthappa finished things off with a 128-run partnership, during which Sharma not only registered his second double century, but also surpassed the highest ODI score of 219, which was made by Virender Sehwag.

Sharma soon rocketed past the 250-run mark and it wasn’t until the last ball of the innings that his historic knock came to an end.

Sharma ended up scoring a career-best and record-breaking 264, which came off 173 balls and included 33 boundaries, which is the highest number of fours any batsman has hit during an ODI innings, and nine sixes.

Thanks to Sharma’s incredible innings, India finished on an unbelievable total of 404/5 off their 50 overs.

Mathews was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Eranga and Nuwan Kulasekara chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing a mammoth 405 to win, Sri Lanka got off to a horrible start as Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan were all back in the pavilion with only 48 runs on the board.

Mathews and Thirimanne stemmed the bleeding with a 118-run partnership, during which Mathews scored his half-century, before he was stumped by Uthappa off the bowling of Akshar Patel.

Mathews’ brilliant knock of 75 came off 68 balls and included nine boundaries and a six.

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Thirimanne and Thisara Perera kept the runs flowing with a 52-run partnership, during which Thirimanne recorded his half-century, before he was caught by Kohli at midwicket off the bowling of Dhawal Kulkarni.

Thirimanne’s lovely innings of 59 came off 69 deliveries and included seven boundaries and a six.

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Perera went on to score 29 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Kulkarni.

Kulasekara failed to trouble the scorers as he was caught by Rayudu at deep midwicket off the bowling of Kulkarni for a duck.

Prasanna mustered 11 runs before he was caught by Patel at deep square leg to become Kulkarni’s fourth victim of the match.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 251 when Ajantha Mendis was caught by Karn Sharma off the bowling of Patel for four runs.

Kulkarni was easily the most successful bowler with a career-best four wickets, while Patel, Stuart Binny and Umesh Yadav claimed two wickets each.

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Mathews was embarrassed by his side’s performance, and said: “It is embarrassing that we are not even competing. We lost our way in the last 20 overs. It is not acceptable. Our bowlers didn’t have any answers for them. To score 290 in the last 25 is unbelievable. Nothing can be taken away from Rohit, though. Our fielding was terrible again. We need to fix our problems. We need to get everything – batting, bowling and fielding – right.”

Kohli was ecstatic to have gone 4-0 up in the series, and said: “I said in the press conference yesterday that once Rohit gets going he is very dangerous. Today is the kind of day I can tell my kids I was there. I don’t think this record is getting broken anytime soon. I was glad I was batting with him. There was a time when Rohit will admit runs were not coming easily, and I just asked him to take his time. Once he gets to 70-80, he is almost unstoppable. I am quite happy as of now as captain. I have had more wins than losses, but your character is tested only when the team is being tested. That time will come sooner than later. Your character is tested only in bad times. No we don’t want to let up. That’s what we are looking to develop as a team culture.”

Sharma was named Man of the Match, and said: “The fact that I went on to bat 50 overs was absolutely pleasing. I have been working on it. To bat as long as possible. Finally I managed that. That run-out of Virat was my mistake. Things like that happen, but no hard feelings there. It was a crucial partnership we were building, and to lose him then was quite frustrating. But I kept telling myself to keep on going. It’s going to be difficult to pick out one shot that stands out. I really cannot pick out one. I will try my best to get to 300, but as of now I will take 264. A lot of memories at Eden Gardens that will remain close to me. This one was really special.”