Published>Mon, May 31 10 04:51 PM
The carom ball darted off the soil, before it was lazily crunched through the square region on the off-side to the boundary.
For Ajantha Mendis, the emotions didn't show too much, as he had already resigned to his fate. But for Rohit Sharma, the prolonged weight of expectations had just risen off his shoulders, causing a look of much-awaited relief.
The traditional leap and the raise of the willow to the dressing room that followed probably didn't do the moment much justice, but the 100 runs he scored before the mild celebration justified every ounce of his oozing talent.
Sharma-Kohli show
Although Sharma's skills were never under question, his temperament had been a constant source of frustration for both the selectors and the fans, ever since he made his international debut in 2006. But with two back-to-back centuries ? his first two in international cricket ? at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, the past has been swept under the carpet.
If Sharma's first century was in vain against Zimbabwe, the one on Sunday (an unbeaten 101) led India to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka ? and their first in the tournament.
On a good day, Sharma can do little wrong. Putting his entire extent of elegance on display, the Mumbai batsman stroked every part of the picturesque ground, while forcing the spectators to burn their barbeques and spill beer in disbelief.
Sharing a 154-run partnership ? the highest on this ground ? with vice-captain Virat Kohli, Sharma's knock made a mockery of the 243-run target, as India chased the total with 39 balls to spare. On the other hand, Kohli was back at his vicious best during his 92-ball 82.
He matched Sharma almost to the stroke, before going for one shot too many in an attempt to earn his third hundred at this level. He holed out at mid-wicket off Suraj Randiv with 42 runs to get. There wasn't much Tillakaratne Dilshan could tell his bowlers, as even he was reduced to a mere spectator on his first day as Sri Lanka skipper.
Like Dilshan, Raina knows a thing or two about losing the first match while captaining. But a prolonged lapse of reason by the Indian skipper on the field could very well have made it two losses in a row for him.
Raina's gaffe doesn't hurt
Long after the match is done and dusted, Dilshan's wry chuckle is bound to embarrass Raina. Apart from the win, it was a day of another first for Raina. He became the only captain to implement the bowling powerplay and yet not have it accounted for. Raina obeyed the rules of the fielding restrictions for the entirety of the five-over spell between the 11th and the 15th, but forgot to inform the umpire.
When the team management relayed information that the umpire hasn't registered the decision yet, Dilshan guffawed in laughter. India ended up bowling 25 overs with the field restrictions on, instead of the mandatory 20, and the Lankans were in no mood to give any respite. Dilshan quickly raced onto his 50 but became the third casualty to a run-out in the Sri Lankan innings.
Deputy Angelo Mathews powered on from where Dilshan left, assaulting the Indian bowling line-up with some lusty hits during his 75 to take his side to 242. But it was never going to be enough, as a century in a winning cause was in the pipeline for Sharma, for a very long time.
Mithun to replace Vinay Kumar
R Vinay Kumar has been ruled out of the tri-series due to a knee injury and will be replaced by Karnataka new-ball partner Abhimanyu Mithun in the Indian squad. "The selection committee of the BCCI has chosen Abhimanyu Mithun as replacement for Vinay Kumar," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement. "He (Mithun) will fly out as soon as formalities are completed."
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