Virat, Rohit toy with Lanka bowlers

FOURTH ODI Ton up Kohli and Sharma turn the screws on Sri Lanka with 219run stand as India score mammoth 375

Having presented Dhoni a memento to mark his 300th ODI appearance, Kohli won the toss for the sixth time on the tour and elected to bat for the first time in the ODIs.

Shikhar Dhawan fell in the second over and Kohli arrived and took apart young left-arm paceman Vishwa Fernando, who pitched it up repeatedly on a good batting surface.

Kohli neatly split his century, taking 38 deliveries apiece for each fifty. The patent cover drive and flicks were all there. The skipper was unsure only twice, while regaining crease after being sent back by Rohit and then awkwardly hooking Lasith Malinga for four to backward square leg. While Kohli and Rohit attacked, the sloppy fielding – two catches were also put down --- kept the runs flowing faster. Malinga finally broke the stand when Kohli lofted to deep extra cover. It ended his wait to claim his 300th ODI wicket, and the 34-year-old eventually returned 1/82 in 10 overs.

India looked good for a 400-plus total when Kohli fell, but Sri Lanka fought back to make it 274 for five. Angelo Mathews had Hardik Pandya (19) and Rohit (104 – 88 balls, 11 x4, 3x6) caught off successive balls.

Rohit had collected his runs calmly as Kohli set a frenetic pace. Still, there were many shots of absolute beauty, a late cut for four and an inside-out loft over extra cover for six, both against debutant left-arm spinner Malinga Pushpakumara.

Pandey prevented the hattrick. KL Rahul fell to spinner Akila Dananjaya, failing for the third time in his new role as middle-order batsman.

Sri Lanka breathed a sigh of relief but Pandey and Dhoni settled down.

Dhoni, dropped on 25 off Malinga, finished unbeaten for the third game in a row. He did seem to have hurt his left knee while trying to turn for a second run at the end.