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2nd ODI: Rohit's double ton guides India to 141-run win over Sri Lanka, square series

Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front as he scored his third double-century in ODIs as India defeated Sri Lanka by a mammoth margin of 141 runs to level the series 1-1.

2nd ODI: Rohit's double ton guides India to 141-run win over Sri Lanka, square series
Rohit Sharma’s double century drives India’s 141-run win over Sri Lanka

Mohali, December 13: Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front as he slammed third double-century in of his ODI career as India crushed Sri Lanka by a margin of 141 runs in the second one-day international and levelled the series 1-1 here in Mohali on Wednesday (December 13).

Defending a mammoth total of 392, India restricted Sri Lanka to 251/8 and won the match convincingly at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.

Match Scorecard; Twitterati hail Ro'Hitman'; Series schedule

Angelo Mathews slammed his career's second ODI ton but his valiant knock of 111* went in vain as the hosts won the game.

India virtually batted Sri Lanka out of the game by posting the highest-total at this ground, surpassing the 351 for five South Africa made against Netherlands in 2011.

It was not the only record that was shattered on a day when India were under pressure to perform after the debacle in Dharamsala.

Rohit, captaining the side in his first full series, single-handedly won the game for India with an innings that comprised as many as a dozen sixes and 13 fours. He got some important contributions on the other side from Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer.

Dhawan (68) and Iyer (88) were the other main scorers for India, who kept themselves alive in the series after suffering a shock humiliating seven-wicket loss in the first ODI at Dharamsala.

After suffering the ignominy of being skittled for just 112 three days ago in Dharamsala, the Indian batsmen came out with an intent on putting things right and square the series.

Rohit constructed his innings patiently as he took his time to settle down and slowly shifted his gears in the second half of the innings. After reaching his century, he really cut loose and demolished the Lankan bowling attack all around the park.

His last double hundred, 264 at the Eden Gardens three years ago, had also come against Sri Lanka while the maiden one (209) was recorded against Australia at Bengaluru in 2013.

2nd ODI: Rohit's double ton guides India to 141-run win over Sri Lanka; hosts square series

'The Hitman' started dealing in sixes after notching up his ton and smashed 12 massive sixes in his unbeaten 153-ball 208. India's second most-consistent batsman after regular skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit slammed his sixth ODI century in this year.

Dhawan notched up his career's 33rd half-century as he and Rohit Sharma gave the hosts just the kind of start they wanted. The left-handed batsman notched up his fifty off 47 deliveries and stitched yet another 100-run stand with Rohit.

His innings was laced with nine boundaries before getting dismissed for 68 off Sachith Pathirana in the 22nd over. The scorecard read 115 when Dhawan was dismissed.

Both the Indian openers were off to a decent start after witnessing a shambolic batting collapse in the previous game in Dharamsala. They didn't throw their wickets away in the first powerplay and denied Lankan pacers.

It was the ninth occasion when Indian openers put up a 100-plus partnership in the year 2017, most by any team. South Africa are at the second spot with just two such 100-plus stands.

Meanwhile, youngster Shreyas Iyer too made most of the opportunity he got and played a memorable knock of 88 runs off 70 deliveries.

Playing just his second ODI, the talented right-handed batsman brought up his maiden fifty in the 50-over format. However, the Mumbai batsman failed to convert his fifty into a well deserved century as he was dismissed by Thisara Perera.

Perera picked up his second wicket on the innings by getting a dangerous looking Mahendra Singh Dhoni trapped in front. Coming back strongly after being hammered for a six, Perera dismissed Dhoni for 7 with a slower one.

New-man-in Hardik Pandya too played a cameo of 8 runs off 5 balls and was dismissed on the final ball of the innings.

It was one of the forgettable outings for the Sri Lankan bowlers after having an extremely successful day just three days back. Their most consistent bowler Suranga Lakmal remained wicketless and conceded 71 runs from his quota of 10 overs.

Pacer Nuwan Pradeep had one of the worst days of his bowling career as he leaked 104 runs from his 10 overs and remained wicketless.

In response to the huge total posted by Men In Blue, Lankans were never in the game despite a fighting effort from Mathews.

India bowled well with the cushion of a mountain of runs. It was a memorable day for 18-year-old Washington Sundar, who picked the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanne on his India debut.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the Indian bowlers as returned with three wickets.

Story first published: Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 23:54 [IST]
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