Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring his 30th ODI hundred
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India captain Virat Kohli scored his second consecutive hundred to lead his side to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fifth ODI in Colombo on Sunday.
Kohli’s knock of 110 not out was his 30th ODI hundred and he is now level with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the list of most centuries scored in the format. Only Sachin Tendulkar has more ODI hundreds as he accumulated 49 during his illustrious career.
Kohli was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five wickets, and Kedar Jadhav, who made 63.
Choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka did not get off to the best of starts as in the third over, opening batsman Niroshan Dickwella was caught and bowled by Kumar for two runs.
Dilshan Munaweera failed to have an impact either as he was brilliantly caught by Kohli at mid-off off the bowling of Kumar.
Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga, who returned after serving a two-game suspension, looked in excellent form and took the attack to India’s bowling attack.
However, his time at the crease came to an end when he was caught behind off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah for a 34-ball 48.
Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne stabilised the innings with a 122-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.
Lahiru Thirimanne scored his 18th ODI fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
With Sri Lanka beginning to claw their way back into the game, India came roaring back, starting with the wicket of Thirimanne, who was clean bowled by Kumar for 67, which came off 102 balls and included three boundaries and a six.
Mathews went on to make 55 off 98 deliveries, which included four boundaries, before he was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav.
Angelo Mathews’ 35th half-century went in vain
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
With his stumping, Dhoni set a new record by becoming the first player in history to register 100 stumpings in ODI cricket.
Once Mathews was gone, Sri Lanka completely collapsed as they went from 194/5 to being bowled out for 238.
Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Bumrah took two, and Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished with career-best figures of 5-42 off 9.4 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Chasing 239 to win, India opener Ajinkya Rahane only made five runs before he was sent packing by Lasith Malinga for five runs.
Rohit Sharma only made 16 runs before he was dismissed by Vishwa Fernando.
Kohli and Manish Pandey came to the rescue with a 99-run stand, during which Kohli brought up his fifty, before Pandey was caught by Tharanga at midwicket off the bowling of Malinda Pushpakumara for 36.
Kohli and Jadhav kept the runs flowing with a 109-run partnership, during which Kohli registered his hundred, before Jadhav was caught behind off the bowling of Wanidu Hasaranga for 63, which came off 73 balls and included seven boundaries.
Kedar Jadhav struck his second half-century in ODI cricket
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Kohli went on to score 110 off 116 deliveries, which included nine boundaries, as India reached their target with 21 balls to spare.
Malinga, Fernando, Pushpakumara and Hasaranga claimed one wicket each.
Tharanga was disappointed to have lost again, and said: “It is a very difficult time for us. We were not up to the standard. It was a good toss to win. We lost a few early wickets. Thirimanne and Mathews had a good partnership. One stage we were looking for 260-270. Unfortunately we collapsed again. We have to improve in all three departments, especially our batting. We couldn’t get those big scores in all five games. We lost a few main players, but still as a captain I feel we didn’t play to our standard.”
Kohli was thrilled to have whitewashed Sri Lanka, and said: “It’s quite amazing to have won the series 5-0. We always thought the shorter format is going to be much more challenging. The youngsters and the spunk on the field has worked for us. All round, it’s been a complete series for us. We’ve been playing some good cricket. We didn’t win three games in the shorter format before this, and now we have six in a row including the West Indies series.”
Kumar was named Man of the Match, and said: “Wasn’t among the wickets in the first few matches. When wickets came, they came in the form of a five-for so I’m happy. We wanted to bowl more slower balls to these batsmen based on our analysis of them. Whenever I went in, I just wanted to do well. There’s no point to prove to anyone.”