CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Two unbeaten centuries from Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul helped India pile up a massive 356 for two wickets in their rain-hit Asia Cup 50-Overs Cricket Tournament Super Four match against arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.
India resumed their innings on the reserve day at 147 for two in 24.1 overs and they produced a magnificent batting display to smash 209 runs from the balance 25.5 overs with Kohli and Rahul leading the way.
Pakistan, of course, suffered a severe blow even before the commencement of the innings as their key bowler Haris Rauf was rested as a precautionary measure after he felt a discomfort in his right flank on Sunday.
With Pakistan short of a bowler, India exploited the situation to good advantage as they went on the rampage while collecting runs at a brisk rate.
Kohli also reached a significant milestone during his majestic innings as he completed 13,000 runs in One Day Internationals while playing in his 278th match for his country.
After a slow start to their innings, Kohli and Rahul accelerated the scoring rate and brought up their century partnership for the third wicket in 101 balls and posted the 200-run stand from just 179 deliveries.
In all, India hammered 37 boundaries and nine sixes as the Pakistan bowlers were taken to the cleaners with Shaheen Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan all conceding more than 70 runs from their 10 overs.
Kohli completed his half century from 55 balls but thereafter, he moved into top gear and reached his hundred from just 84 balls inclusive of two sixes and six boundaries.
Rahul took 60 balls to reach his fifty, but he went on to complete a run-a-ball century studded with two sixes and 10 boundaries.
Chief scores
India: 356/2 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 56, Shubman Gill 58, Virat Kohli 122 n.o, Lokesh Rahul 111 n.o) v Pakistan.
