Rohit Sharma’s fifth 2019 World Cup century fires India past Sri Lanka and to top of the ladder

India eased to the top of the World Cup ladder thanks to a comfortable win over Sri Lanka in which Rohit Sharma became the first batsman ever to hit five centuries at a single tournament.

TOPSHOT - India's Rohit Sharma celebrates after reaching his century during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and India at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

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Rohit Sharma became the first player to hit five hundreds in a single Cricket World Cup as India thrashed Sri Lanka to go top of the group standings on Saturday.

Sharma’s 103 from 94 balls in India’s successful chase of 265 separated him from Kumar Sangakkara’s record four hundreds in 2015.

Sharma and KL Rahul, who made 111, his first hundred of this tournament, combined in an opening stand of 189 in 31 overs to propel India’s charge.

Rohit Sharma has been in consistently remarkable form throughout this World Cup.

Sri Lanka recovered from 55-4 in the 12th over to post 264-7, thanks largely to Angelo Mathews 113, his third career hundred, all of them against India.

The total was considered challenging on a dry, used Headingley pitch. And India had failed in three of its last four chases.

But thanks to Sharma and Rahul, who blasted 25 boundaries and three sixes between them, India knocked off the winning runs with 39 balls to spare.

Sharma said his focus was not on personal records, but rather World Cup glory.

“I’m not here for records. I’m here to play cricket. I’m here to play and score runs and lift the cup,” Sharma said.

“Winning the game is important, no matter how many runs you score or how many wickets you take.

“For us, as cricketers, it’s important to get the job done because we have all been looking for this World Cup, which comes every four years.”

Already through to the semi-finals, India needed to beat Sri Lanka and hope Australia loses to South Africa, to finish top of the standings. If the standings hold, India will play New Zealand in the first semi-final on Tuesday in nearby Manchester.

Sharma and Rahul wasted no time. They reached 50 together in 41 balls, India’s fastest of the tournament. They have averaged 72 in five previous opening stands, and blew past that in the 13th over.

They reached 100 in the 19th over, and slowed down somewhat in the face of spin. But not for long.

K.L. Rahul offered able support to Rohit with a century of his own.

Rahul woke up the crowd with 4-6-0-4 off Dhananjaya de Silva in the 23rd over. Sharma brought up his third consecutive century — matched only by Virat Kohli — with a pull of a Kasun Rajitha delivery to the square leg boundary, his 14th four.

Rajitha got him in his next over, spooning straight to the mid-off fielder on 103 off 94 balls.

At this World Cup, Sharma has hit 122 not out against South Africa, 140 against Pakistan, 102 against England, and 104 against Bangladesh.

Rahul’s form had been promising a big score since he’d stepped into the opener’s role after Shikhar Dhawan was sidelined by injury. He finally went on and got there in the 39th over. His hundred came from 109 balls.

He was out with victory almost in India’s grasp, gloving an edge behind. His wicket gave Lasith Malinga his 56th in World Cups, and outright third on the tournament all-time list.

Malinga, likely playing his last World Cup match, was obviously chuffed. For Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews led with 113, his third career ODI century, all of them against India.

In front of another crowd packed with Indian fans the pre-tournament favourites lived up to their billing.

Mathews was in the middle when Sri Lanka was reduced to 55-4 within 12 overs. Jasprit Bumrah removed the openers to give him his 100th and 101st ODI wickets, and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni was involved in all four wickets with three catches and a stumping.

Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne were slow but steadfast as they pulled Sri Lanka out of deep trouble.

They hit only one boundary in 14 overs. They were just starting to push the run rate when Thirimanne was out for 53.

Mathews was defiant. He was dropped on 61 then hit the sightscreen with his first six of the match, and when he survived a stumping chance he hit his second six in the same over.

Possibly his last World Cup bat ended in the 49th over, and de Silva got Sri Lanka to the end with an unbeaten 29.