Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the semi-final stage of the 2015 World Cup took a massive step backwards, as India amassed a hefty total of 302 for six in Thursday’s key quarter-final fixture at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Opening batsman Rohit Sharma top-scored with a fine 137, which spanned a mere 126 deliveries – and featured 14 fours and a trio of handsome sixes. The left-handed Suresh Raina, meanwhile, weighed in with a complementary 65.
The Indians fielded an unchanged XI, while the Bangladeshi’s welcomed the return of seamer Mashrafe Mortaza.
The winner of this fixture will face Australia or Pakistan in the second semi-final, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, on 26 March.
See how some of the cricket fraternity reacted to Sharma’s match-changing hundred.
Rohit Sharma 137 now playing baseball at @MCG #BatterBatterSwingBatter #INDvBAN #CWC15
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 19, 2015
This is incredible from @ImRo45 … Love this Era of ODI batting…. #INDvBAN #Rohit #CWC15 — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 19, 2015
Rohit Sharma switched on BEAST mode…surreal batting. #INDvBAN
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 19, 2015
Fab innings here from Sharma but you have to wonder what might have happened if he was given out instead of no-ball. #INDvsBAN — Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 19, 2015
Rohit Sharma comes of age with that 100…extremely mature innings.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 19, 2015
Congrats @ImRo45 on a fantastic 100. Very impressed with his concentration & application. A mature knock. Keep it up.#CWC2015 — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 19, 2015
