Rohit Sharma is on a different planet as India win big in second ODI

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  • Rohit Sharma hit his third double hundred in ODI cricket.

    After succumbing to a humiliating defeat in the first ODI at Dharamshala, hosts India came roaring back into the three-match series with a massive 141-run victory at Mohali in the second game.

    For the second time in a row, Sri Lanka skipper Thisara Perera won the toss and chose to field first. However, the visitors were unable to repeat the bowling performance in the first match as the Indian batsmen found their form once again.

    Here, we look at the good and bad performances of the match.

    THE GOOD

    ROHIT SHARMA IN A DIFFERENT LEAGUE WITH THIRD DOUBLE-TON

    The stand-in India skipper was already the only batsman in the world to have two double centuries in ODI cricket. On Thursday, he went one step further to score his third in fine fashion.

    The opening batsman brought up his century in 115 deliveries. What came next was a typhoon which would leave the Sri Lankan bowlers in tatters. Sharma’s next hundred runs came off just 36 deliveries as he tonked 12 sixes along with 13 boundaries in his unbeaten 153-ball 208.

    The Mumbai-man changed gears towards the death as he racked up 92 runs in his final 27 deliveries with 11 of his sixes coming during this period.

    Sharma now has three double tons to his credit out of the seven which have been scored so far in ODI cricket history.

    Sharma exults as he completes his third double-ton in ODIs.

    Sharma exults as he completes his third double-ton in ODIs.

    SHREYAS IYER SHOWS PROMISE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE

    The 23-year-old has been recently called up to the Indian limited-overs setup and had played three T20I against New Zealand. Despite that, he hasn’t really got an opportunity to shine so far and fared poorly in his ODI debut in the first match at Dharamshala where he was dismissed for just nine runs.

    At Mohali, he showed why he is held in such high regard amongst followers of Indian domestic cricket with a display of clean-hitting and impeccable timing. He found the gaps with ease and looked fluent throughout his innings.

    Iyer was looking good for his maiden ODI ton as he motored along to 88 runs of just 69 deliveries before he was undone by a slower delivery from Perera. The youngster put on a 213-run partnership with the skipper for the second wicket, a stand which effectively dealt the death-blow to Sri Lanka’s hopes.

    Iyer looked in command throughout his innings.

    Iyer looked in command throughout his innings.

    THE BAD

    NUWAN PRADEEP COMLETES INFAMOUS CENTURY OF HIS OWN

    While centuries flowed from Sharma’s bat on Thursday, Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Pradeep had a ton of his own though he will want to erase all memories of it.

    The 31-year-old bowler went for 106 runs in his quota of 10 overs as Sharma and Iyer inflicted maximum punishment. His bowling figures of 0-106 are the worst by a Sri Lankan in an ODI match. It is also tied with India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar now for the third worst in one-day cricket history with only Mike Lewis and Wahab Riaz going for more runs.

    Not a day to remember for the senior Sri Lanka pacer in the end.

    SRI LANKA’S SHAMBOLIC DEATH-BOWLING

    The Sri Lankan pacers had taken plenty of plaudits in the first game at Dharamshala as they tied up the Indian batsmen in knots on a pitch which assisted swing and seam.

    On a flat track at Mohali though,the islanders found it tough to find the right lengths as India’s batsmen made merry. They were particularly woeful in the final 10 overs where they were carted for a whipping 147 runs as Sharma ran riot.

    None of the bowlers including Suranga Lakmal, Pradeep and Perera were spared as boundaries became moot and sixes flowed from the bat. The Sri Lankans tried bowling wide and full in the death overs but erred in their lengths as full tosses rained down at Mohali.

    On a batting pitch, the visitors would have done well to restrict the Indians below 330 but 393 runs would be a bridge too far for their batting line-up.

    The Sri Lankan bowlers didn't have much to celebrate in Mohali.

    The Sri Lankan bowlers didn’t have much to celebrate in Mohali.

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