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.
Here, we look at the two good and bad stories of the match.
THE GOOD
ROHIT SHARMA SLAMS RECORD TON
That Sharma loves to bat against Sri Lanka is no open secret – he has now scored two of his three world record ODI double tons against the islanders with the latest coming in the preceding 50-over series.
Although he became only the second Indian to register 1,500 T20I runs in Cuttack, Sharma missed out on a big score on a batting-friendly wicket.
The Mumbai-man brought up the joint-fastest T20I hundred off 35 balls. Only David Miller of South Africa has scored a century as quick as Sharma.
The 30-year-old clubbed 10 huge sixes and 12 boundaries in his 43–ball 118 as his innings blew the islanders away before they even had a chance to bat.
Sharma’s fireworks lit up Indore.
KL RAHUL KEEPS UP HIS CUTTACK FORM
The opener was left to play second fiddle as Sharma excelled with some lusty hitting at the other end.
Nevertheless, Rahul was equally fluent when his chance came and registered his second consecutive T20I fifty coming on the back of his fine knock in Cuttack.
The right-hander combined with Sharma to record India’s highest opening stand (165runs) in the shortest format of the game.
The opener’s return to form will please the Indian management after a string of poor performances in limited-overs series against Australia and New Zealand – which had seen him miss out on selection in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
With India set to tour South Africa next, Rahul’s fine form will be a welcome boost to the team.
Back to back half centuries for KL Rahul and making his presence in this Indian line up…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 22, 2017
THE BAD
SRI LANKA’S BOWLING GOES FOR A TOSS
None of the Sri Lankan bowlers were spared by Sharma’s classy contribution as Rahul made merry to save for Angelo Mathews – who was forced to leave the field clutching his hamstring midway through his spell.
The senior pair of Nuwan Pradeep and Perera took a hammering while spinner Akila Dananjaya failed to shine.
The bowlers were unable to find the right length on a pitch which gave no margins of error and each mistake was punished heavily by the Indian batsmen.
21 sixes were conceded by the tourists who found limited respite with taking off the pace in the deliveries but the islanders did not match up with consistency as India fell just four runs short of the record T20I total of 263.
Sri Lanka’s failed to bowl a tight spell.
SRI LANKA’S INCREDIBLE BATTING COLLAPSE
If being poor with the ball wasn’t enough, the tourists showed an even greater ineptitude with their batting.
Despite chasing a near record target, Sri Lanka had put themselves into a healthy position thanks to Kusal Perera’s brilliant counter-attacking innings.
With Upul Tharanga looking solid at the other end, the islanders were at 145-1 at one stage, within a fighting chance to pull off an improbable chase, but the visitors collapsed after the dismissals of the duo.
Perera’s men lost their last eight wickets for a dismal 27 runs with the skipper himself departing for a golden duck.
The Lankans ultimately ended up at 172-9, a far cry from India’s total which they were looking good to chase down at one point.
Sri Lanka had a huge collapse.
