SL vs Ind, 4th ODI: India defeat Sri Lanka by 168 runs, go 4-0 up in series

Colombo: Virat Kohli and co continued their dominance in Sri Lanka as they defeated the hosts by 168 runs in the fourth ODI here on Thursday. After winning the toss, India put themselves to bat. Despite losing Shikhar Dhawan early, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s 219-run partnership powered India to a total of 375-5 from 50 overs.

Earlier, Kohli started with a bang, entertaining fans with boundaries. However, the India captain departed for 131 just as Lasith Malinga got the crucial breakthrough for the Lankans. This was followed by the departure of Hardik Pandya, after which Rohit Sharma got out soon after reaching his 13^th century.

However, MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey brought India back into the game, making their contribution to India’s total of 375.

In reply, Sri Lanka got off to a promising start, but started losing four wickets in succession. However, a 73-run partnership between Angelo Mathews and Milinda Siriwardana put Sri Lanka back on track, giving them some hope in the match.

However, Hardik Pandya provided the crucial breakthrough as he removed Siriwardana, who was followed by Wanidu Hasaranga and Angelo Mathews. Post Mathews’ dismissal, the Islander’s hopes all but ended the game as they lost Pushpakumara, Vishwa Fernando and Lasith Malinga in quick succession.

In the Indian bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets each, whereas debutant Shardul Thakur claimed his first wicket, finishing with 1/26 from 7 overs. In the end, it was Kuldeep Yadav who finished the match in style, bowling out Malinga for a duck.

The two teams will face off at the same ground on Sunday when they face-off in the fifth and final ODI.  

Sri Lanka innings

Sri Lanka 190-7 from 37.2 overs

WICKET! Axar Patel sees off Angelo Mathews, who seemed to be in good touch. Sri Lanka's hopes have all but ended of winning this match wiuth the former captain's departure.

Sri Lanka 177-6 from 34 overs

WICKET! Wanidu Hasaranga is run out by Jasprit Bumrah as Team India nears in another victory.

Sri Lanka 141-5 from 28.2 overs

WICKET! Hardik Pandya has provided the crucial breakthrough as he removes Milinda Siriwardana, who scored 39. Siriwardana and Angelo Mathews put up a 73-run partnership.

Sri Lanka 68-4 from 16 overs

WICKET! Hardik Pandya strikes as he removes Lahiru Thirimanne, thanks to a fantastic catch by Shikhar Dhawan.

Sri Lanka 37-3 from 8 overs

WICKET! Dilshan Munaweera departs as he is caught by MS Dhoni. ONce again, it was a wider delivery which Kohli reviewed, and eventually was successful. 

Sri Lanka 26-2 from 5.2 overs

WICKET! Kusal Mendis is run out by KL Rahul as Sri Lanka lose their second wicket.

Sri Lanka 22-1 from 3 overs

WICKET! Niroshan Dickwella is the first to depart as Shardul Thakur gets his first wicket in international cricket. It was a delivery which went a little bit wider through the leg-side.

The original decision was not out, but once Kohli reviewed the decision, the decision was overturned as theball edged through the bat to MS Dhoni, the wicket-keeper.

India innings

Team India produced another dominating display against Sri Lanka by setting a mammoth total of 375 of board in the 4^th ODI. Courtesy of centuries by India skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue got off to a solid start.

However, Kohli’s men soon lost their momentum after Rohit Sharma made his way back to the pavilion, losing 3 wickets for 12 runs. Receiving his 300^th ODI cap, MS Dhoni steered the Indian innings alongside Manish Pandey who scored a half-century to take the visitors to 375-5 .

The former India skipper also came close to scoring his 3^rd consecutive ODI half-century but missed out by a run.

India 375/5 from 50 overs:

Manish Pandey makes a point with a half century supported by former India skipper MS Dhoni to take India to a big total. Remarkable performance for MS Dhoni on his 300th ODI as he came close to his third consecutive ODI fifty but missed out by a run. 100 partnership comes up between the duo.

India 279/5 from 38 overs:

WICKET! Akila removes KL Rahul. Sri Lanka are back in this game with three quick wickets. Rahul tries to flick over mid-wicket, fails. India 5 down.

India 262/4 from 35 overs:

WICKETS! Angelo Mathews has turned it around for Sri Lanka in an over. First he dismisses Hardik as the Indian all-rounder mishits one and gets caught in the deep and on the next ball removes ton-up Rohit Sharma. Sri Lanka are pulling back a few things. 

India 230/2 from 30 overs

WICKET! Lasith Malinga scalps his 300th ODI wicket as he ends the Virat Kohli blitz. The Indian captain departs after scoring a whirlwind 131 off just 96 balls. Tremendous knock for Kohli, tremendous achievement for Malinga. The Sri Lankan skipper gets a hug from his Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma.

India 187/1 from 25 overs

HUNDRED! Number 29 in ODIs for Virat Kohli in 76 balls. He has bulldozed Sri Lanka. India are tormenting Sri Lankan bowlers. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, is making merry too. Ominous signs for Sri Lanka. India have a realistic chance to score 400. Can Kohli score a double ton too?

India 132/1 from 17 overs:

Stop them if you can, Sri Lanka! Virat Kohli has continued his onslaught and Rohit Sharma is cashing in on every opportunity to hit big as India continue to hammer Sri Lankan bowlers. With fours and sixes being hit at will, the run-rate is close to 8 runs per over,

India 83-1 from 12 overs:

India continued moving forward in the match despite losing opener Shikhar Dhawan early. Captain Virat Kohli got to his 45th ODI fifty as he along with Roohit Sharma continued to take Team India ahead.

Virat Kohli has become the leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2017.

India 6-1 from 1.3 overs:

India lose their first wicket, Vishwa Fernando strikes for Sri Lanka, Shikhar Dhawan departs for 4 runs. Dhawan tries to go hard at the ball, the ball takes thick edge and flies straight to third man and into the hand of debutant  Malinda Pushpakumara.

Colombo: Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat in MS Dhoni's 300th ODI as India take on Lasith Malinga-led Sri Lanka in the 4th ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Thursday.

India have made three changes to their playing XI as Shardul Thakur (on debut), Kuldeep Yadav and Manish Pandey replace Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kedar Jadhav in the team.

Sri Lanka too have made three changes to their team as Wanidu Hasaranga,  and debutants Malinda Pushpakumara and Dilshan Munaweera are a part of the playing XI.

Kohli-led Team India have been on a roll on the Sri Lanka tour. The Men in Blue have completely outplayed the hosts by whitewashing them in test series 3-0 and now have pocketed five match ODI series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead.

With last two matches being a dead rubber, India could test their bench strength by resting couple of big names in the 4th ODI and 5th ODI, which will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday and Sunday respectively.

Players like Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur could get a look in the last two matches of ODI series. Kedar Jadhav who has bowled well in the last two games could also make way for Manish Pandey due to back-to-back poor batting performances with scores of 1 and 0.  Pandey who was touring South Africa with India A side had a good tour with the bat making a strong case for a place in the final eleven.

With Virat Kohli already hinting on rotation policy left arm Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and right arm pacer Shardul Thakur could also get look in. Yadav made his ODI debut in the West Indies in June claiming eight wickets from five matches. While he failed to land a place in the first three ODI's, the wrist spinner could get a chance in the final two games, either in place of Axar Patel or Yuzvendra Chahal. Shardul Thakur who has been in India set up for a year now could also make his ODI debut in Thursday's game. Thakur had been part of test side, but have failed to get a game so far.

Sri Lanka’s injury list continues to grow:

Sri Lanka are currently going through a bad phase, the team have been unable to find winning combination for their first XI.  Apart from on field problems they have also faced issue off the pitch, with the selection committee headed by Sanath

Jayasuriya resigning.

The failure of experienced players to deliver when it mattered the most and lack of consistency has been a key element for the failure of this Sri Lanka unit. Adding more problems to the already existing one is the growing list of injured players.

Lasith Malinga will lead the side in the fourth ODI with current skipper Upul Tharanga was suspended for two matches due to slow over rate will be back to captain the side in the final ODI.

Meanwhile, Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the series with a hairline fracture on his right thumb after enduring a hit in the third ODI. Another casualty is the stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedara who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series as well, owing to an aggravated back injury. Dhananjaya de Silva and Dilshan Munaweera have been added to the squad as covers. They also have Thisara Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga on the bench.

Dhoni reaches yet another landmark:

MS Dhoni would look to carry forward his form with the bat in his 300th ODI match which we played on Thursday. When the Men in Blue were in danger in 2nd and 3rd ODI,  Dhoni's respective scores of 45 and 67 not out under pressure proved to be a match winning knock and showed that the former India captain still has it in him to play at highest level. Dhoni will join an elite 300 club that already has the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh.