World Cup 2023: Kohli hits 48th ODI ton as India thump Bangladesh to remain unbeaten

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Virat Kohli scored his 48th One-Day International hundred as India powered to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh.

Set 257, India knocked off the runs with 8.3 overs to spare as Kohli moved to within one of Sachin Tendulkar’s record 49 ODI centuries.

Rohit Sharma got the chase off to a flyer and Shubman Gill scored 53 before Kohli took over and hit a six to win the game and bring up his hundred.

A fourth straight win means India remain joint-top of the group table.

After electing to bat first, Bangladesh, without injured captain Shakib Al Hasan, battled through a challenging first few overs against the new ball before openers Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das accelerated to put pressure on the India attack.

The stand reached 93 before Tanzid fell to the spin of Kuldeep Yadav the over after reaching his half-century.

India seized on the opening, slowed the scoring rate and took another two wickets before Das holed out for 66 to leave Bangladesh 137-4.

Useful contributions from Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah ensured the innings didn’t completely unravel, but the momentum had been lost and Bangladesh fell well short of a total that could really challenge India.

That was brought into focus inside an over of the India reply as Rohit plundered two boundaries, and he continued in the same vain before falling two runs shy of his fifty.

Gill took his time to get set before joining the boundary barrage and Kohli was given two free-hits from the first three he faced to help get him into his stride quickly.

Such a blistering start removed any real jeopardy and after Gill was caught in the deep in the 20th over, India took a more considered, risk-free approach and calmly chipped away at the runs required.

Kohli kept the sell-out crowd happy with some occasional sizzling strokeplay but it was KL Rahul who started the kick for home, pulling Shoriful Islam for six then four.

With Kohli within reach of his century, Rahul held off as India closed in and singles were even turned down to ensure that the former skipper had the chance to get to three figures.

And he did so in some style, clubbing a full toss from Nasum Ahmed over the leg side for six to seal the win. (BBC Sport)

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