Tri-Nation Series: India, world champions for this reason
Kohli blasts unbeaten ton; India beat Sri Lanka to keep final’s chances alive.
HOBART:
Virat Kohli blasted an unbeaten 133 off just 86 balls as India’s stunning seven-wicket bonus point victory over Sri Lanka kept them alive in the Tri-Nation One-Day International (ODI) Series in Hobart.
The right-hander produced his highest ODI score to propel the World Cup champions to a remarkable 321 for three off just 36.4 overs and secure the extra point with 20 balls to spare. The bonus point enabled India to draw level with Sri Lanka on 15. The World Cup runners-up now need to beat Australia on Friday to reach the best-of-three match finals against the hosts.
My best, says Kohli
The 23-year-old was the stand-out man-of-the-match with 16 fours and two sixes in an ODI featuring three century-makers and a combined total of 641 runs off 86.4 overs.
“That was the best one-day innings I’ve played in my career,” said Kohli. “We needed to pull off a win with a bonus point and we were able to do that so I’m really happy. I’ve been believing in myself every day and waking up and thinking I belong here and that I can score runs at the international level. That’s the biggest thing that has kept motivating me on this tour.”
Sri Lanka left disappointed
India came into the Hobart match on the back of three defeats and a tie and their problems were magnified when in-form Sri Lanka appeared to set a daunting target.
Tillakaratne Dilshan equalled his best one-day score of 160 and Kumar Sangakkara smashed a ton to push Sri Lanka’s total to 320 for four off 50 overs. But captain Mahela Jayawardene was a disappointed man.
“They had the licence to go for it, there was nothing left for them to do but to go for it,” said Jayawardene. “It’s tough to try to stop somebody going like that, everything Kohli hit was pretty solid today.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.
Virat Kohli blasted an unbeaten 133 off just 86 balls as India’s stunning seven-wicket bonus point victory over Sri Lanka kept them alive in the Tri-Nation One-Day International (ODI) Series in Hobart.
The right-hander produced his highest ODI score to propel the World Cup champions to a remarkable 321 for three off just 36.4 overs and secure the extra point with 20 balls to spare. The bonus point enabled India to draw level with Sri Lanka on 15. The World Cup runners-up now need to beat Australia on Friday to reach the best-of-three match finals against the hosts.
My best, says Kohli
The 23-year-old was the stand-out man-of-the-match with 16 fours and two sixes in an ODI featuring three century-makers and a combined total of 641 runs off 86.4 overs.
“That was the best one-day innings I’ve played in my career,” said Kohli. “We needed to pull off a win with a bonus point and we were able to do that so I’m really happy. I’ve been believing in myself every day and waking up and thinking I belong here and that I can score runs at the international level. That’s the biggest thing that has kept motivating me on this tour.”
Sri Lanka left disappointed
India came into the Hobart match on the back of three defeats and a tie and their problems were magnified when in-form Sri Lanka appeared to set a daunting target.
Tillakaratne Dilshan equalled his best one-day score of 160 and Kumar Sangakkara smashed a ton to push Sri Lanka’s total to 320 for four off 50 overs. But captain Mahela Jayawardene was a disappointed man.
“They had the licence to go for it, there was nothing left for them to do but to go for it,” said Jayawardene. “It’s tough to try to stop somebody going like that, everything Kohli hit was pretty solid today.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.