SL vs Ind 4th ODI: India 4-0 up as Sri Lanka suffers 168-run defeat

Colombo: Sri Lanka suffered yet another humiliating defeat at the hands of India in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) at the R Premadasa stadium here on Thursday.

Coming in to chase a mammoth target of 376 runs, Lankan batting line-up shattered miserably and finally got wrapped up for mere 207 runs in 42.4 overs, suffering a 168-run defeat.

Former captain Angelo Mathews showed some resistance as he scored 70 runs off 80 balls with 10 fours, but got no support what so ever from any of the batsmen to pose a threat in front of a flamboyant Indian bowling attack.

Niroshan Dickwella (14 off 11, 3 fours) was the first to depart when Sri Lanka had just posted 22 runs on the board. Kusal Mendis (1 off 7) was the next to depart as he fell short of his crease while trying to steal a tough single. Dickwella's opening partner, Dilshan Munaweera (11 off 24) also followed him back to the pavilion leaving Sri Lanka under immense pressure at 37/3.

Lahiru Thirimanne scored 18 runs off 27 balls hitting one four and a six, while Milinda Siriwardana (39 off 43, 3 fours, 2 sixes) tried to support Mathews in the cause but could not last long enough.

Also Read: SL vs IND 4th ODI: Kohli-Rohit tons power India to 375/5

Wanindu Hasaranga also got run out at the individual score of 22 runs off 22 balls. He smashed 2 fours and a six. Malinda Pushpakumara (3 off 18), Vishwa Fernando (5 off 4, 1 four) and stand-in skipper Lasith Malinga (0 off 1) were the next to depart. Akila Dananjaya, however, remained unbeaten at 11 runs off 19 balls with 1 four.

Jasprit Bumrah (2/32, 7 overs), Hardik Pandya (2/50, 8 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/31, 8.4 overs) took two wickets each, while Shardul Thakur (1/26, 7 overs) and Axar Patel (1/55, 10 overs) managed to pluck one success each.

Earlier, with the help of belligerent tons from skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India piled up a mammoth 375/5 on the scoreboard.

Winning the toss, India decided to bat first and suffered the early blow in form of Shikhar Dhawan (4 off 6, 1 four). Kohli, however, did not seem to be bothered by the early jolt and started scoring freely immediately after coming to the crease.

Virat Kohli also received the man of the match award for his 29th ODI hundred.

He, along with opener Rohit Sharma, added 219 runs for the second wicket and went on to complete his 29th hundred in One-Day Internationals. He got out after scoring 131 runs off only 96 deliveries with 17 fours and two sixes.

Also Read: SL vs IND: After Kohli, Rohit Sharma completes 13th ODI ton

Rohit also completed his 13th ODI century before finally edging a bouncy delivery to the wicket-keeper at the individual score of 104 runs. He took only 88 deliveries and laced his inning with 11 fours and 3 sixes.

The match seemed to be turning a bit towards Sri Lanka in the 35th over when Angelo Mathews got Hardik Pandya (19 off 18, 1 four, 1 six) and Rohit on back to back deliveries, but despite soon losing Lokesh Rahul (7 off 8), Indian batsmen kept their nerves and led the team to a gigantic total.

Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni, who is playing his 300th ODI today, shared the crease in an unbeaten 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Pandey completed his half-century off 42 balls with 4 boundaries while MSD added 49 runs off the same number of deliveries and decorated his inning with 5 fours and a six.

Mathews was the highest wicket-taker taking 2 wickets for 24 runs in his 6 overs, while stand-in skipper Lasith Malinga (1/82, 10 overs), Vishwa Fernando (1/76, 8 overs) and Akila Dananjaya (1/68, 10 overs) took one wicket each.

During the course of the first inning, Lasith Malinga completed his 300 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs).