Team India secured a massive victory of 317 runs against Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI match at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
The win was a result of a four-wicket haul by Mohammed Siraj and an unbeaten knock of 166 runs from Virat Kohli.
This victory marked the end of the three-match ODI series with a 3-0 sweep for Team India and also registered the biggest-ever win by any team in the 50-over format, surpassing New Zealand’s previous record of 290 runs against Ireland.
The Indian team, who were asked to bat first, posted a huge total of 390/5, thanks to the big knocks from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill (116).
The Indian opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Gill gave India the quick start they needed before Kohli took over and dominated the innings.
Gill fell for 116 off 97 in the 34th over, but Kohli continued to score an unbeaten 166 off 110 balls, more than doubling his score in the last 10 overs and scoring 84 off the last 34 balls he faced without much contribution from the other end.
Gill scored only his second ODI century, as he is still adjusting to playing at the international level.
On the other hand, Kohli’s century was his 46th and his 10th against Sri Lanka, the most any batter has scored against a single opposition.
India scored 116 from the last 10.
The Sri Lankan team had the impossible task of trying to chase down a towering target set by Team India, but unfortunately for them, they just couldn’t keep up with the Indian bowlers.
Led by the fearsome Mohammed Siraj, who took four wickets of top-notch quality, and supported by Mohammad Shami and Kuldeep Yadav with two wickets each, Sri Lanka was sent packing with a measly score of 73 runs.
The Indian bowlers left no chance for the Sri Lankan batsmen, with Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis falling to the classic outswinger, Nuwanidu Fernando inside-edged a wide outswinger, and Hasaranga was caught by the wobble-seam delivery that seamed in to hit the top of off.
Shami also proved to be a force to be reckoned with, with the pressure created resulting in two soft dismissals against him.
Kuldeep bowled Dasun Shanaka through the gate and Siraj ran out the striker Karunaratne with a throw in his follow-through.
The last wicket added 22 runs before Kuldeep ended the match with the wicket of Kumara, in a game that was a “bowlers paradise”, and Sri Lanka was just out of luck.
India 390 for 5 (Kohli 166*, Gill 116, Rajitha 2-81, Kumara 2-87) beat Sri Lanka 97 (Siraj 4-32, Kuldeep 2-16) by 317 runs
