Cricket

Rohit Sharma hits fifth century as India beat Sri Lanka

July 7, 2019 7:31 am

India kept up their hopes of finishing top of the World Cup group table with a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka.

If Australia lose to South Africa in the day-night fixture, India would stay above them and play New Zealand in the semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Rohit Sharma became the first man to score five centuries in a single World Cup as India chased down 265 with 6.3 overs to spare at Headingley.

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Angelo Mathews made 113 as Sri Lanka recovered from 55-4 to post 264-7.

Australia need a formidable 326 to beat the South Africans at Old Trafford and if they fall short they will play England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.

He now has 647 runs in this year’s tournament and needs only 27 more to eclipse another of Tendulkar’s World Cup landmarks, the 673 he scored in the 2003 competition.

With KL Rahul, who made 111, they put on 189 for the highest opening stand in this year’s competition, eclipsing their own 180 against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The right-handed pair hit nine boundaries in the opening six overs as India took control of the chase from the start. The only surprise was Rohit driving straight to mid-off in the 31st over, having completed his 27th ODI hundred in his 214th match.

In his World Cup finale, Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga, who played in both the 2007 and 2011 finals, claimed the wicket of Rahul in the 41st over with a trademark surprise bouncer.