Sharma slams fastest World Cup century for India as host flattens Afghanistan

India captain Rohit Sharma 

DELHI: Rohit Sharma slammed India’s fastest World Cup hundred as the host steamrolled Afghanistan by eight wickets in a World Cup match played at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium Wednesday.

After Afghanistan had put up a decent score of 272-8, it was all Sharma, as the Indian Captain took control of the innings with a virtuoso display of hitting that virtually killed the game in the first 10 overs as India raced to 94 without loss - his contribution being 76.

Sharma completed his hundred off 63 balls, fetching him the record for the fastest century by an Indian cricketer in a World Cup surpassing Kapil Dev’s hundred off 72 balls against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in 1983.

India romped home scoring 273-2 in the 35th over which would have done immense good to their net run rate which could play a role later in deciding the four semi-finalists. Kohli ended the match with a boundary reaching his 68th ODI fifty off 56 balls (6 fours) with Shreyas Iyer 25*. 

Sharma’s marauding century also saw him surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for the most hundreds - seven - in World Cup history. Tendulkar played five World Cups from 1992 to 2011 and smashed six centuries – his last being 111 against South Africa in Bengaluru during his 41st innings. In comparison, this is only the 19th innings in World Cups for Sharma.

Earlier during his innings, Sharma knocked down two more impressive milestones. He completed 1000 runs in the World Cup, becoming only the fourth Indian to the landmark after Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly and then struck three sixes to become the leading six-hitter in international cricket, surpassing ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle’s 553 sixes.

The Indian skipper eventually fell for a marvellous innings of 131 when he was bowled by Rashid Khan who had accounted for the other opener Ishan Kishan for a run-a-ball 47 after an opening stand of 156 off 112 balls. Sharma’s blazing knock comprised 16 fours and five sixes off 84 balls.

Afghanistan batting first made their second-highest total in ODI World Cups 272-8 with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai being the key contributors with 80 and 62 respectively. They put on a 121-run stand off 128 balls, with Hashmatullah hitting eight fours and a six in his 88-ball knock of 80, and Omarzai, two fours and four sixes in his 62 off 69 balls. The partnership came after India had captured the first three wickets for 63. However the innings faded away in the last ten overs as Afghanistan lost four wickets for 61. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4/39 in an economic spell of ten overs, while Hardik Pandya on his 30th birthday picked up two. – (ST)

Scores: Afghanistan 272-8 (50) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 21, Ibrahim Zadran 22, Hashmatullah Shahidi 80, Azmatullah Omarzai 62, Jasprit Bumrah 4/39, Hardik Pandya 2/43)

India 273-2 (35) (Rohit Sharma 131, Ishan Kishan 47, Virat Kohli 55*, Shreyas Iyer 25*, Rashid Khan 2/57)