Sumptuous victory for India

COLOMBO: Virat Kohli’s supreme fitness was evident in his 47th ODI century while comeback man KL Rahul produced an equally engaging ton on comeback as India thrashed a listless Pakistan by record 228-run margin in a rain-marred Super Four game of the Asia Cup here on Sunday.

This is India’s biggest win in terms of runs against the cross-border neighbours.

India posted an imposing 356 for 2, as Kohli (122 not out off 94 balls) and Rahul (111 not out off 106 balls), which was his sixth ODI hundred, pummelled a hapless Pakistan, whose chase ended at 128 for 8 as Kuldeep Yadav (5/25) scythed through them.

On the century count in ODIs, Kohli now stands just two behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record 49.

Once India restarted the day from 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs, they needed Kohli and Rahul, the two overnight batters, to go big, and they did that in some style.

Along with Rahul, Kohli amassed 233 runs for the unbeaten third wicket stand – the highest ODI partnership for India against Pakistan.

En route to his 77th international century, Kohli also added some personal milestones to an already long list, becoming the fastest batsman to 13000 ODI runs and scoring his fourth ton in as many innings at the R Premadasa Stadium.

His first fifty had come in 55 balls, and the remaining 72 runs cascaded in just 39 balls, as Pakistan bowlers were put through the wringer. Sensing the mood that Kohli was in, Rahul slightly took his feet off the pedal.

Indian bowlers dominated proceedings right from the very start making Pakistan batters uncomfortable and not giving them space to settle. Kuldeep Yadav was in the thick of things picking up a five-wicket haul that steered India to a win by a margin of 228 runs.

BRIEF SCORES: India 356/2 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 56, Shubman Gill 58, Virat Kohli 122 not out, KL Rahul 111 not out); beat Pakistan (Kuldeep Yadav 5/25); India won by 228 runs.