Indore: Rohit Sharma (118, 43b, 12×4, 10×6) bludgeoned the Sri Lankan attack with a record-equalling 35-ball century and powered India to a series-sealing 88-run win in the second T20 International here, Friday.
Rohit equalled South African David Miller’s record en route his coruscating knock that propelled India to a colossal 260 for five after being invited to bat.
The knock was Rohit’s second T20 hundred and the best by an Indian in this format. It was not power-hitting but sheer elegance coupled with remarkable ease.
There was never a dull moment till the time Rohit was at the crease as he pulled, cut and drove the clueless Lankan bowlers at will. In the process he raised a 165-run stand for the first wicket, the highest for India, with KL Rahul (89, 49b, 5×4, 8×6), who scored back-to-back half centuries in the series.
Rohit, always revered as a special talent, is gradually creating his own legacy as he is the only batsman to have scored three double centuries in ODIs and now has two T20 hundreds to his name.
The hosts shot the Lankans for 172 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, rendering the third T20 in Mumbai Sunday, inconsequential.
Kusal Perera (77, 37b, 4×4, 7×6) was the top scorer for Sri Lanka but the visitors were out of the game after Rohit’s blitzkrieg. They maintained a decent run-rate but it was not going to be enough.
From being 145 for one in 13.1 overs, they collapsed to 172 in 17.2 overs. Once the 109-run second-wicket partnership between Upal Tharanga (47, 29b, 3×4, 2×6) was broken by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (4/52), the Lankans innings fell apart. Kuldeep Yadav (3/52) was also among the wicket-takers for India. Angelo Mathews did not come out to bat and when the ninth wicket fell, India were declared winners. None of the Sri Lankan batsman, barring the top-three, could manage a double-digit score.
Before being caught at short third man off Dushmantha Chameera (1/45), Rohit left the Lankans shell-shocked but delighted the home fans at the jam-packed Holkar stadium, hosting its first ever T20I.
After Rohit’s departure, former skipper MS Dhoni (28, 21b, 2×4, 2×6) was promoted to bat at number three as he and Rahul raised a 78-run partnership.
Rahul, who was dropped on six, was also impressive with his stroke-making, specially the sixes in the V. He missed out on his hundred, though, after being caught sensationally by stumper Niroshan Dickwella off Nuwan Pradeep (2/61) in the 19th over.
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