Sports
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.
Playing just his second Test and the first in his team’s starting XI, Pasindu Sooriyabandara made Sri Lanka dream of the rarest of possibilities, but reality imposed itself on the SSC late on day four as India regained their grip on a Test match that had seemed to spiral out of control after the threat of bad weather led them to enforce the follow-on.
After Sooriyabandara put on 58 with Kamil Mishara for the second wicket and 115 with Kamindu Mendis for the third, Sri Lanka were at one stage 209 for 3, or just four runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand, on a day-four pitch that was still looking excellent for batting. India’s bowlers were into their 149th over across two consecutive innings, and looking short of both penetration and inspiration against a top order that had never allowed them to settle into their lengths.
Just then, however, Manav Suthar, who had borne the brunt of Sri Lanka’s positive intent, dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva and then Sooriyabandara in the space of two overs, the latter out eight short of a maiden Test hundred. Soon after, Saransh Jain trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka were effectively 5 for 6. By the time rain arrived to bring an early end to the day, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket pair had only added a further 11 runs to their tally.
If Sri Lanka still retain any hope going into the final day of this series, it will rest on the shoulders of Sonal Dinusha, batting on 7 in his final innings of a remarkable series. Earlier in the day, he had converted his overnight 85 into his second century of the series, with his only other completed innings bringing him 84.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 290 in 89.4 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80, Sonal Dinusha 103; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 229 for 6 in 72.4 overs (f/o) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55, Sonal Dinusha 7*; Manav Suthar 2-81) lead India 503 for 9 dec by 16 runs
[Cricinfo]
- Confirmation of the minutes of the 94th Annual General Meeting of BCCI held on September 28, 2025, at BCCI Headquarters, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Election and induction of 2 (two) representatives of the General Body in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Induction of 1 (one) representative of the Indian Cricketer’s Association in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Adoption of the Report of the Secretary for the year 2025-26 under review.
- Copies of the audited Statement of Accounts of BCCI for the year FY 2025-2026 including schedule for any tour or tours.
- Adoption of the Treasurer’s Report and the audited accounts for the year FY 2025-2026.
- Adoption of the Annual Budget for FY 2026-27.
- Appointment of the Auditor or Auditors for FY 2026-27 and fix their remuneration.
- Appointment of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.
- Appointment of the Standing Committees, Cricket Committees and Umpire Committee as mentioned in Rules 25, 26 and 27 respectively.
- Consideration of:(a) The Report and recommendations of the Apex Council, the CEO and the Committees and to propose policy directions to the Apex Council.(b) The Report and recommendations of the Governing Council and to propose policy directions to the Governing Council.(c) The reports of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer and any recommendations made therein.
- Report of the Internal Committee of BCCI formed under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.
- Grant of Associate Membership to Cricket Association Andaman & Nicobar Island for the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Consideration of any motion, notice whereof is given by a Full Member to the Secretary, 21 (twenty-one) days before the meeting.
- To appoint the BCCI’s Representative or Representatives on the International Cricket Council and/or any similar organization.
- Ratification of rules framed by the Apex Council, in terms of Rule 15 of BCCI’s Rules and Regulations.
- Consideration of any business, which the President may consider necessary to be included in the agenda.
- Transaction of any other business of an informal character as may be permitted by the Chairperson.
UPDATE: Flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border kills more than 100, with hundreds of tourists missing
At least eight killed, hundreds missing after Nepal flash flood
India close in despite Sooriyabandara, Kamindu fifties
Advisory for High Waves for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota
We must create social awareness to ensure the physical and mental well-being of children with disabilities – PM
BCCI AGM set for September 18 in Mumbai
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoCountry’s first woman Surveyor General appointed
-
Business5 days agoSriLankan Airlines makes ShakthiSAT Mission possible for talented Sri Lankan student
-
Sports7 days agoTharanga, Weber headline stellar Lausanne javelin field
-
Features6 days agoMedical education in Sri Lanka: Then and now
-
Business7 days agoMannar’s offshore opportunity: the dollar question behind Sri Lanka’s oil and gas search
-
Latest News6 days agoImran Khan moved to private hospital amid deteriorating health
-
Latest News6 days agoGovernment has declared 21, 22 and 23 August 2026 as national days of mourning
-
Features4 days agoMy secondary schooling after Royal Primary