Carnage in Indore

Indore: Skipper Rohit Sharma’s record-equalling century guided India to a 88-run win in the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka on Friday, clinching the series 2-0 in Indore.

The visitors were dismissed for 172 in pursuit of their 261-run target. Kusal Perera top-scored with 77 runs while Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal claimed four wickets.

But it was Sharma’s 100 off 35 balls, matching South African David Miller’s century against Bangladesh in October, that stood out. He made a 43-ball 118.

It was his second T20 hundred and the best by an Indian in this format.

In an incredible display of hitting, rather punishing of the bowlers, the Indian captain smashed 12 fours and 10 sixes during his 43-ball stay at the crease.

It was not power-hitting but sheer elegance which came 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 K.L. Rahul, who scored 89 off 49 balls. India’s total is joint second highest in T20s with only Australia’s 263/3 against Sri Lanka being a better effort.

Sri Lanka had scored 260/6 against Kenya at Johannesburg in 2007.

Before being caught at short third man off Dushmantha Chameera, the Indian captain left the Lankans shell-shocked but delighted the home fans at the jam-packed Holkar stadium, hosting its first ever T20 International.

He seem to have taken a special liking for the Lankans against whom he raised his third ODI double century, just eight days back.

Rahul, who was dropped on six, was also impressive with his stroke-making.   

Scorecard

India: Rohit Sharma c Dananjaya b Chameera 118, KL Rahul c Dickwella b Pradeep 89, MS Dhoni  b NLTC Perera 28, H. Pandya c Samarawickrama b Pradeep 10, S. Iyer lbw b NLTC Perera 0, Manish Pandey (not out) 1, Dinesh Karthik (not out) 5. Extras: (lb 3, w 6) 9. Total: (for 5 wkts, in 20overs) 260.
FoW: 1-165, 2-243, 3-253, 4-254, 5-255.
Bowling: Mathews 2.2-0-16-0, Chameera 4-0-45-1, Fernando 4-0-61-2 (2w), Dananjaya 3.4-0-49-0 (2w), Perera 4-0-49-2 (2w), Silva 1-0-16-0, Gunaratne 1-0-21-0.
Sri Lanka: N. Dickwella c Pandya b Unadkat 25, W. Tharanga c & b Chahal 47, M. Perera c Pandey b Kuldeep Yadav 77, N. Perera (c) c Pandya b Kuldeep Yadav 0, D. Gunaratne st †Dhoni b Kuldeep Yadav 0, S. Samarawickrama st †Dhoni b Chahal 5, P. de Silva b Chahal 1, A. Dananjaya c Pandya b Chahal 5, P. Chameera b Pandya 3, A. Fernando (not out) 0, A. Mathews (absent hurt). Extras: 9 (lb2, w7). Total: (in 17.2 overs) 172.
FoW: 1-36, 2-145, 3-155, 4-156, 5-161, 6-162, 7-164, 8-170, 9-172.
Bowling: Unadkat 3-0-22-1, Bumrah 3-0-21-0 (2wd), Yadav 4-0-52-3 (1wd), Pandya 3.2-0-23-1, Chahal 4-0-52-4 (4wd).