Sharma hits record fifth World Cup ton as India humble Sri Lanka
Leeds, United Kingdom (AFP) — Rohit Sharma became the first player to hit five centuries in a single World Cup, as India cantered to a seven-wicket win in their final World Cup group match against Sri Lanka yesterday.
The opener smashed 103 off 94 deliveries as semi-finalists India chased down their target of 265 in 43.3 overs to end the group stage with seven wins, one defeat and a washout.
Sharma’s opening partner KL Rahul top-scored with 111 as the pair put on 189 runs for the first wicket to put India in complete command.
Man-of-the-match Sharma reached his milestone with a boundary off Kasun Rajitha to pass the mark set by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who scored four hundreds at the 2015 tournament.
His century came off 92 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes.
Sharma was dismissed shortly afterwards, caught by Angelo Mathews off the bowling of Rajitha.
Known as the “hitman”, Sharma leads the current World Cup’s run-scoring charts with 647 runs in eight matches, after hitting his third successive century.
“I’m just trying to go out there and do my job, I’m not thinking of milestones,” Sharma said.
“If I play well these things will happen on the way.
“I have learned from my mistakes in the past. I don’t go into a match thinking of hundreds. Every day is a new day.”
He is only the fourth batsman after Sachin Tendulkar, Matthew Hayden and Shakib Al Hasan to score more than 600 runs at a single World Cup.
Tendulkar, India’s all-time record run-scorer in One-Day Internationals, tweeted his praise for Sharma.
“3 consecutive 100s and 5 in a single @cricketworldcup is just phenomenal, Rohit,” Tendulkar wrote.
Rahul registered his first century of the tournament but was caught behind shortly before the end of the game off veteran paceman Lasith Malinga — playing his final World Cup match — after hitting 11 fours and one six.
Skipper Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 34 and Hardik Pandya hit the winning runs to give India a chance to finish above group leaders Australia, who lost by 10 runs to South Africa in yesterday’s late match at Old Trafford.
“We wanted to play good cricket but we didn’t expect to do this well heading in to the semis,” Kohli said.
“That’s what hard work gets you. I am really proud of this team as a captain, they are amazing people.
“More or less everything is set for the semis but we don’t want to be one-dimensional. We need balance in the side. We are very happy.