Colombo: Virat Kohli’s dream run in ODIs continued as his brilliant century guided India to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the fourth one-dayer against Sri Lanka, thereby clinching the five-match series 3-1, on Tuesday.
Courtesy’s Kohli’s 119-ball 128 and his partnership of 146 runs with another in-form batsman, Suresh Raina (58), India reached the 252-run target in 42.2 overs at the R Premadasa Stadium.
This is Kohli’s 13th century in his 89th ODI appearance, a feat still unattained by any other batsman in ODI history.
By virtue of this win, India have now recorded 400 victories in the 50-over game.
The Delhi batsman, on his way to another three-digit figure, also completed quickest 1,000 runs in a calender year with a whopping average of 77.15. He has now scored his fifth century in eight matches.
It was Raina who scored the winning run with a hit over extra cover off Tillakaratne Dilshan as India reached 255 for four.
Raina’s 51-ball 58 was his 24th half century and eighth against Sri Lanka. Raina may not be as prolific numbers as Kohli but batting at number 5 and 6, he has more than pulled his weight.
Virender Sehwag along with Kohli put the Indian chase back on track with a 50-run stand for the second wicket but Angelo Mathews got rid of the opener in the 10th over to somewhat derail visitors’ chase.
Mathews got Sehwag caught by substitute Senanayake after his fighting knock of 34.
Sehwag was quickly followed by Rohit Sharma, whose disastrous run of form does not seem to be drawing to and end.
Unsurprisingly, Kohli was named Man-of-the-Match. It may be noted that he scored more than half of India’s runs.
The fifth ODI will be a dead rubber, but Sri Lanka need something positive to take away from the series. They will be ruing the absence of Kumar Sangakkara, who picked up an injury in the previous ODI. (PTI)