Kohli and Rahul hundreds help India post mammoth 356

by Rex Clementine

India complied a strong 356 for two in the epic Asia Cup second round game against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on Monday.

Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul posted unbeaten hundreds and added an unfinished 233 runs for the third wicket off just 194 balls to give India complete control of the game. It was India’s highest partnership for any wicket in Asia Cups.

This is now the fourth highest total at R. Premadasa Stadium and no team has successfully chased 357 at this venue to win an ODI. It was also India’s joint highest ODI total against Pakistan, equalling the 356 they had posted in Visakhapatnam in 2005.

After rain on Sunday, play was suspended and was extended to Monday’s reserve day. India resumed on 147 for two and took the game away from Pakistan following the audacious batting of Kohli and Rahul.

Rahul, who was returning to the side after injury reached his half-century in 60 deliveries but upped the tempo to complete a run a ball century. It was his sixth ODI hundred and the first since March 2021.

Rahul finished on 111 not out off 106 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

Kohli, meanwhile, needed 55 balls to reach his fifty but cut loose after that putting Pakistan’s bowlers to the sword.

In the process, the former Indian captain completed 13,000 ODI runs becoming the quickest batsman to do so. The previous record holder Sachin Tendulkar, had required 321 innings for the milestone but Kohli got there in just 267 innings.

Kohli’s hundred came off in 84 balls. It was his fourth consecutive hundred at R. Premadasa Stadium and only Hasim Amla of South Africa had scored four successive hundreds before him at the same ground – Centurion.

It was Kohli’s 47th ODI century.

Kohli finished unbeaten on 122 off 94 deliveries with nine fours and three sixes.

Pakistan’s bowling had looked formidable when these two teams had met in the first-round game in Kandy but in Colombo, India took the attack onto the bowlers dominating the game.

Pakistan’s attack was weakened with Haris Rauf unavailable to bowl. The fast bowler had sent down five overs but wasn’t available to bowl on Monday as he felt discomfort in his right flank.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have one win each in the Super Four round while India are searching for their first win. Bangladesh is the fourth team in the Super Four stage while Nepal and Afghanistan were knocked out from the first round.