Despite India’s loss to England in the third ODI at Lord’s, Rohit Sharma’s magnificent century (138 off 110 balls) was a standout performance. England secured t
Rohit Sharma delivered a significant century at Lord’s on Sunday, scoring 138 runs off 110 balls in the third One Day International (ODI) against England. Despite his efforts, India lost the match by 27 runs, with England securing the series 2-1. The match saw England post a total of 387/3 in 50 overs, which was the highest score at the venue.
The pressure on Rohit Sharma was notable leading into the match, with discussions surrounding his future in India colours and potential retirement. Questions about his selection for the next series in September had also been raised. His innings, lasting for approximately 175 minutes, was seen as a statement on his ability to perform under challenging circumstances.
Rohit’s Masterful Innings
Rohit Sharma walked out to bat with Shubman Gill, who contributed 77 runs. The partnership aimed to counter England’s strong pace attack, including Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Rohit initially played cautiously against Archer but soon increased his scoring rate, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Tongue.
He strategically played against Sam Curran, who had dismissed him in the first match, by using the square behind the wicket to disrupt the bowler’s length. When Curran adjusted his length, Rohit employed his characteristic pull shot to score boundaries. His fifty came off 50 balls, and he continued to build his innings, manipulating the field and the bowling of Tongue, Archer, and Adil Rashid.
The partnership with Virat Kohli, who scored 74 runs, was crucial as Rohit approached his milestone. His 36th ODI hundred was achieved in just 84 balls against Adil Rashid in the 31st over. The celebration was understated, with Rohit simply raising his bat and being embraced by Kohli, reflecting his focus on the demanding chase.
This century carried historical significance, making Rohit Sharma the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s. He surpassed Sourav Ganguly’s 90 runs against England in 2004 as the highest individual score by an Indian at the venue. At 39 years and 80 days, he also became the oldest batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s and the oldest Indian cricketer to score an international hundred across all formats.
Challenges and Records
The chase was formidable, with England’s bowlers taking pace off the ball and extra fielders positioned outside the circle. Between overs 34 and 38, Rohit ensured at least one boundary per over from Curran and Bethell. However, in an attempt to accelerate further against Bethell, he was dismissed after his 110-ball 138.
His innings also enhanced his impressive record in England, marking his eighth ODI hundred in the country. This achievement makes him the visiting batter with the most ODI hundreds in a single nation, surpassing records held by players like Sachin Tendulkar, Saeed Anwar, AB de Villiers, and Quinton de Kock, who each have seven centuries in a visiting country. Among batters in England, only Joe Root, with 10 ODI hundreds, has scored more, while Marcus Trescothick also has eight.
Despite the individual brilliance, India ultimately fell short, scoring 360/7 in their 50 overs. Sam Curran was a key bowler for England, taking 4/75. The match concluded with England winning by 27 runs. The innings by Rohit Sharma, however, left a lasting impression, with the crowd at Lord’s applauding his walk back to the pavilion.
The final scores were: England 387/3 in 50 overs (Ben Duckett 141, Jacob Bethell 91, Joe Root 74 not out, Jos Buttler 41 not out; Arshdeep Singh 2/72) beat India 360/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 138, Shubman Gill 77, Virat Kohli 74; Sam Curran 4/75) by 27 runs.
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Source: newindianexpress.com
