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Image Source : AP
Captain Rohit Sharma scored the joint-fastest T20I century as India beat Sri Lanka by 88 runs to win their three-match series with a game to spare on Friday. Sharma reached his second T20 century off 35 balls, equaling David Miller's record against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in October. He was eventually out for 118 off 43 balls, including 10 sixes and a dozen boundaries. Fellow opener Lokesh Rahul made 89.
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Rohit's opening partner Rahul 89 off 49 balls started the onslaught with a couple of boundaries, Rohit took over by pulling Nuwan Pradeep for a thunderous six over mid-wicket before taking Akila Dananjaya to the skies thrice to milk 16 runs off the off-spinner's first over. Rahul made the most of the dropped chance early in his innings, as he brought up his second successive half-century with a boundary off Pradeep before launching an all-out attack on the opposition after the loss of the Indian captain.
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For India, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal 4/52) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/52) were the most successful bowlers. Chasing 261, the visitors started off on a positive note as openers Niroshan Dickwella (25) Upul Tharanga (47) added 36 runs in 4.3 overs before Dickwella was dismissed by pacer Jaydev Unadkat. His 19-ball innings ended with a good catch by Hardik Pandya.
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Incoming batsman Kusal Perera (77) then joined Tharanga. The duo played sensibly and played the ball to its merit. They also punished the bad balls to forge a 109-run partnership for the second wicket. But just when things seemed good in the middle for the visitors, Tharanga top-edged the ball which was perfectly caught by spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the 14th over. His 29-ball innings was laced with three boundaries and two sixes.
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Chahal got the breakthrough dismissing Tharanga in the 14th over. The Sri Lankans withered, especially after the departure of Perera, who scored his seventh T20 half-century off 26 balls. Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for 27 runs in the space of four overs. "It was too big a target for us to chase," captain Thisara Perera said. "Tharanga and Perera batted well for us and gave us momentum but others couldn't build on it. It has been a tough series for us." The third and last T20 is on Sunday in Mumbai.