An authoritative Virat Kohli headlined India’s totally dominant efficiency along with his forty fifth ODI hundred because the hosts pummelled Sri Lanka by 67 runs within the first of the three-match sequence in Guwahati on Tuesday. Asked to bat first, India rode former skipper Kohli’s 87-ball 113 and fluent half-centuries from his successor Rohit Sharma (83) and Shubman Gill (70) to rake up an imposing 373 for seven of their allotted quota of overs on a batting-friendly strip. In reply, the Sri Lankans had been by no means within the hunt and ended at 306 for eight in 50 overs at hand the hosts a 1-0 lead within the rubber.
After opener Pathum Nissanka fell for 72, visiting captain Dasun Shanaka waged a lone battle and produced a counterattacking century, even because the others did not put up any resistance.
In the tip, Shanaka remained not out on 108 off 88 balls.
Young velocity retailers Umran Malik (3/57) and Mohammed Siraj (2/30) then put the icing on the cake in a lopsided recreation.
Continuing his blazing kind into the New Year, Kohli slammed his 73rd worldwide hundred general and made the Lankans pay for 2 dropped catches.
The exuberant Siraj as soon as once more bowled splendidly with the brand new ball and diminished the Islanders to 23/2 inside six overs to set the tone.
He first dismissed Avishka Fernando after which rattled Kusal Mendis’ timber with a scorching supply to cap an outstanding opening spell of 5-1-15-2, laced with 25 dot balls.
But Nissanka held on and stood in two essential partnerships with Dhananjaya de Silva (47) and Charith Asalanka (23) when India operated with spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal (1/58) and Axar Patel (0/32 from 5 overs) within the center overs.
Amid heavy dew, Malik got here to bowl within the center overs and struck thrice, dismissing Asalanka, Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage to cut back Lanka to 179/7 in 33.2 overs.
From there although, Sahanka held the fort en path to his second ODI century that got here within the penultimate ball of their innings, after Rohit withdrew an attraction for run out on the non-striker’s finish after the batter had backed up too far.
Kohli, who scored 113 in opposition to Bangladesh in Chattogram in India’s final ODI, continued from the place he left.
The class of Kohli was on full show as he smashed 12 fours and one six and held on to at least one finish whereas wickets fell at common intervals within the center overs.
This was Kohli’s third hundred from three ODIs at Guwahati — two right here on the Barsapara and one on the Nehru Stadium.
He was dropped twice — on 52 and 81 — on his strategy to his forty fifth ODI century, 4 shy of maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time document of 49 a whole lot within the 50-over format.
Rohit responded to the criticism of benching the in-form duo of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav by giving India a strong begin within the firm of Gill.
The Indian skipper had most popular Gill over Ishan who needed to sit out regardless of a record-breaking 210 within the final one-dayer.
Rohit slammed a 67-ball 83 (9×4, 3×6) in a knock of sheer domination. On a flat deck, Rohit was relaxed whereas stepping out to the Lankan pacers, and in addition pulled them with nonchalance.
Gill was additionally at his fluent greatest and complemented his skipper whereas holding his aptitude and magnificence intact.
Continuing his dream run in ODIs, Gill introduced up his fifth half-century off 51 balls.
It was a one-way site visitors for the Indian opening duo earlier than Shanaka dismissed Gill. The teenager was responsible of enjoying throughout the road and was trapped in entrance of the wicket.
Looking to carry an finish to his century drought, Rohit too perished as well as of 30 runs to the whole. He was cleaned up by debutant Dilshan Madushanka.
The run-rate slowed down and it was a welcome respite for the Sri Lankans who had been observing a 400-plus goal.
The house staff slowly regained momentum with Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (28) taking cost of the middle-overs.
Having obtained the nod forward of Suryakumar, Iyer appeared fluent and hit Wanindu Hasaranga for a six. But he did not convert his begin.
The underfire KL Rahul (39) additionally couldn’t make it large and was bowled across the legs after being deceived by a slower one from Kasun Rajitha.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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