Virat Kohli struck his 21st One-day international (ODI) ton as India won the fifth ODI at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday to whitewash Sri Lanka 5-0 in the five-match series. Not only were the visitors beaten, but also outplayed in all thre departments of the game – batting, bowling and fielding. Meanwhile Kohli became the the fifth highest century-maker in the history of 50-over cricket alongside Herschelle Gibbs and Chris Gayle.
The day wasn’t just about Kohli. Earlier in the day even the rival skipper Angelo Mathews had scored a century – his first in ODI cricket. It was also the third instance in ODI cricket when captains of both sides had scored a century – Kohli has been involved in two of them. Defending a target of 287, Mathews struck two early blows, dismissing openers Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma with the score on just 14. However, Kohli and Ambati Rayudu stitched a 100-run partnership to take India to a comfortable position. However, a moment of confusion saw both of them running towards the batsman’s end resulting in a run-out.
Meanwhile Kohli went along his business in a swift manner, caressing the gaps at ease and displaying vintage class. The script was familiar for teh Indian skipper who yet again eased through the pressure that had beset on the Indian team when he walked out to bat. He went about the chase as easily as he has ever done.
Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav looked good while they were there, but the Indian skipper kept running out of partners as Sri Lanka continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Ajanatha Mendis struck twice in two balls in the 44th over to leave India reeling at 231 for seven. However, like so often it happened in the series, Sri Lankan fielders put up a below par display, giving away easy runs.
After a phenomenal year, which saw Sri Lanka grab all the major honours that came their way in One-Day International (ODI) and Test cricket, skipper Angelo Mathews, who has been on the forefront of it all, steering the ship and elevating himself to scale new heights as player added another feather to his cap by bringing up his maiden hundred in the fifth ODI at Ranchi. After a rather difficult start, which saw the Sri Lankans lose quick wickets in the first hour of the innings, Mathews calmed the tide with the help of able support from Lahiru Thirmanne to take Sri Lanka to a fighting total of 286.
On a rather tough batting wicket; a stark contrast to the bowlers’ deathbed that was laid out in Eden Gardens, where Rohit Sharma brought up his monumental 264, Sri Lankans stuttered after opting to bat first. Niroshan Dickwell fell early while Tillakaratne Dilshan blazed away to a cracking start but a beautiful delivery from Stuart Binny, one that came back into the batsman, cramping him for room, breached his defence and ended his stay at the crease.
Dinesh Chandimal’s long and painstaking stay at the crease ended with him losing his nerve and going for the long hop off Axar Patel and and Rohit took a safe catch in the deep. Mahela Jayawardene started well and was his elegant self early on but failed to make it count as R Ashwin snared his wicket to reduce Sri Lanka to 85 for four. Mathews and Thirimmane started patiently and India were culpable of putting down a couple of easy chances to reduce the hosts into further trouble. Robin Uthappa missed a regulation chance behind the stumps while Ajinkya Rahane missed a sharp chance at first slip.
Indians got complacent in the middle overs and Virat Kohli turned to part-timers in the middle overs and the Sri Lankans capitalised during this passage of play. Mathews launched a brutal assault on the bowlers. He was severe on the spinners and was muscling sixes for fun towards the end of the innings. Indians wore a deserted look on their faces as Mathews launched one skyscraper after another. In the process, he completed 10 sixes in total; a Sri Lankan record beating Sanath Jayasuriya’s nine and also brought up the highest individual score by a Lankan batsman in this series. He also became the first batsman in 2014 to bring up 1,000 ODi runs. Kohli joined him in the list as the second batsmen later in the innings.
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