Dhawan headlines strong Indian batting show

Shikhar Dhawan’s love affair with ICC events continued as the Indian opener’s third century in seven ICC Champions Trophy innings helped India post a commanding 321 for 6 against Sri Lanka in their Group B clash at The Oval on Thursday.

Dhawan made 125 off 128 balls, in the process extending another success story: opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma, who made a 79-ball 78. The pair added 138 – their third century and sixth 50-plus stand in seven ICC Champions Trophy innings – before Mahendra Singh Dhoni applied the finishing touches the way he has done so well over the years, slamming a 52-ball 63.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers were in the firing line and all the three frontline pacers including Lasith Malinga conceded more than 70 runs each.

As it did against Pakistan, India again rode on partnerships, Dhawan and Dhoni adding 82 for the fourth wicket to build on the platform set by Rohit and Dhawan.

The Indian openers’ methods are clear – start at normal pace without going berserk, set a base, and then capitalise when possible. They did that to perfection, milking the runs and hurting Sri Lanka gradually. They scored 48 in the first 10 overs, 59 in the next 10 and 31 more in the next 29 deliveries before Rohit perished.

Sri Lanka employed the same tactics as against South Africa in its previous game. After opting to field, Malinga and Suranga Lakmal tried to bowl straight and weren’t overly attacking in their fields, choosing to attempt to restrict the batsmen. However, the execution wasn’t as good – Lakmal in particular bowled quite short, allowing Dhawan to cut and pull.

The Indian openers too weren’t going to be bogged down. Apart from the odd boundary, they kept ticking with quick singles that have become a hallmark of their batting. One such run nearly got Rohit, but the pair was largely untroubled by the bowling.

Rohit and Dhawan were going at comparable pace for most part of their partnership before Rohit raced ahead. He pulled Thisara Perera for two sixes in the 20th over to go past his half-century, used his feet and charged Danushka Gunathilaka, and even lofted Malinga to and beyond the ropes.

He perished to the mood though, pulling a Malinga short ball to long-leg, one ball after successfully hitting a similar one for six. One brought two when Virat Kohli edged Nuwan Pradeep to the wicketkeeper in the next over without scoring, trying to guide to third-man.

India was suddenly 139 for 2 after a strong start, but Dhawan realised the need to step up. He wrested the momentum back by hitting five boundaries in the next three overs, but with Yuvraj Singh settling in, India’s run-rate took a dip.

Only 13 runs came between the 30th and 34th overs, India also losing Yuvraj, who was undone by a loopy, full ball from Asela Gunaratne. Dhawan also slowed down, going 26 balls without a boundary during that phase.

But the innings got the impetus once again with Dhoni’s arrival. Sri Lanka looked to attack him early and had six fielders, including a slip, inside the ring but Dhoni utilised the opportunity, getting off the mark by slashing Lakmal for a six over point.

It set the tone for calculated aggression, which also rubbed off on Dhawan, who went past his century by cutting Pradeep to the deep point fence. Once that landmark was out of the way in the 40th over, Dhawan upped the ante, pulling and even sweeping the pacers.

At the other end, Dhoni continued his charge, helped along by some full tosses from Pradeep who was smashed for 26 runs in a two-over spell.

The 82-run partnership ended when Dhawan holed out off Malinga but that brought Hardik Pandya in in with 35 balls remaining in the innings.

Pandya started with a six off Lakmal but fell the very next ball, unable to clear the longer end of the ground. Dhoni, though, nearly stayed till the end, coupling big hits with smart running to take India well past 300.