India’s Rohit Sharma set the record books ablaze by smashing the highest individual score in one-day international cricket to help secure victory over Sri Lanka by 153 runs.
Opening batsman Sharma, who last played in the ODI against England at Cardiff before injury curtailed his series, made 264 in 173 balls, which eclipsed the previous record of 219 set by compatriot Virender Sehwag, before he fell cruelly to the final ball of the innings.
It was Sharma’s second double hundred – his 209 coming against Australia in November last year - and also scored a world record number of fours – 33, to take India to 404 for five.
India captain Virat Kohli himself plundered 66 after winning the toss as Nuwan Kulasekara – who got rid of Sharma – went for 89 runs in his nine overs.
Sri Lanka fought hard to overcome an initial collapse. They briefly looked on course for the target as captain Angelo Matthews cracked 75 in 68 balls and Lahiru Thirimane contributed 59. But India’s Dhawal Kulkarni got four quickfire wickets as the visitors ended on 251 to give India a 4-0 series lead after they won the third ODI in Hyderabad.
Ambati Rayudu was the unlucky Indian to be stuck on single figures, bowled by Shaminda Eranga for eight after opener Rahane departed lbw for 28 to Matthews.
Sharma, who was dropped on four, was relatively pedestrian to begin with but accelerated from 100 to 250 in just 66 deliveries before being dropped two more times as his partnership with Kohli lasted 25.5 overs.
The stand was eventually ended on 202 when a mix-up saw Kohli run out in the 39th over, but Sharma powered on till the end, hitting nine sixes.
Sri Lanka tried to come out all guns blazing but found themselves 48 for four in less than 10 overs as Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Mahela Jayawardene exited for single figures and Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught out for 34, which included six fours.
Matthews fought back and his innings saw 10 boundaries before Axar Patel had him stumped attempting yet another heave. Thirimane similarly took over and cracked seven fours and a six for his half-century.
However, Kulkarni then produced a brilliant spell of bowling to ensure no further resurgence.
He accounted for Thirimane and Thisara Perera in the 37th over and then got rid of Kulasekara and Seekkuge Prasanna in his very next– all four out to ugly slogs – with Patel ending the contest by having Ajantha Mendis caught at deep midwicket attempting the switch hit in vain.