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PHOTOS: It's a Diwali dhamaka as unbeaten India thump Dutch!

Last updated on: November 12, 2023 22:18 IST

Shreyas Iyer celebrates his century against the Netherlands in the ICC World Cup match, at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, on Sunday

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer celebrates his century against the Netherlands in the ICC World Cup match, at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, on Sunday. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul hit hundreds as World Cup hosts India geared up for the semi-finals with a crushing 160-run victory over the Netherlands on Sunday to keep intact their 100% record with nine group wins.

 

After their colleagues had departed following breezy fifties on a good M Chinnaswamy Stadium track, Iyer (128 not out) struck his fourth ODI ton before Rahul (102) exploded as the duo lit up the stage on the Hindu festival of Diwali to get India to 410-4.

India's Virat Kohli celebrates after taking the wicket of Netherlands' Scott Edwards

IMAGE: India's Virat Kohli celebrates after taking the wicket of Netherlands' Scott Edwards . Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Requiring a record World Cup chase to win, the bottom-placed Dutch side got good starts from Max O'Dowd (30), Colin Ackermann (35), Sybrand Engelbrecht (45) and Teja Nidamanuru (54) but they never threatened and were dismissed for 250 in 47.5 overs.

India's Kuldeep Yadav celebrates after taking the lbw wicket of Netherlands' Colin Ackermann

IMAGE: India's Kuldeep Yadav celebrates after taking the lbw wicket of Netherlands' Colin Ackermann. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

"Honestly, since we started the tournament it was always about taking one game at a time and playing that game well," said Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

"That's what everyone did. We're very pleased with how we played in these nine games. We've been clinical from game one. That's because different individuals have stepped up at different points.

Netherlands' Sybrand Engelbrecht was the second highest scorer for the Dutch with 45 off 80

IMAGE: Netherlands' Sybrand Engelbrecht was the second highest scorer for the Dutch with 45 off 80. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

"This is a good sign for a team when everybody wants to take responsibility and get the job done."

India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with Virat Kohli after taking the wicket of Netherlands' Bas de Leede 

IMAGE: India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with Virat Kohli after taking the wicket of Netherlands' Bas de Leede. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Mohammed Siraj (2-29) overcame a throat injury suffered in a dropped catch to dazzle alongside Kuldeep Yadav (2-41), Jasprit Bumrah (2-33) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-49) to secure victory for India, who face New Zealand in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

KL Rahul hit a 62-ball century, the fastest by an Indian in the World Cup 

IMAGE: KL Rahul hit a 62-ball century, the fastest by an Indian in the World Cup. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Iyer reached his century in 84 balls and finished with 10 fours and five sixes while Rahul needed only 62 balls for his ton, getting there with two huge sixes in the last over that took India past 400.

The duo forged a 208-run partnership -- the highest fourth-wicket stand in World Cups -- as India scored 126 runs in their final 10 overs to post the third total above 400 in the event.

Rohit Sharma hit a blistering 61 at the top of the order 

IMAGE: Rohit Sharma hit a blistering 61 at the top of the order. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

India put the Netherlands to the sword after winning the toss and opting to bat as skipper Rohit Sharma (61) and Shubman Gill (51) smashed boundaries at will to give them a superb platform with 91 runs in the powerplay.

Shubman Gill hit is 12th half century

IMAGE: Shubman Gill hit is 12th ODI half century. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Gill was severe on the bowlers with three fours and four sixes, but the world's top-ranked batsman found the man in the deep while taking on a short one from Paul van Meekeren after reaching his 12th half-century.

Shreyas Iyer put on a 71-run stand with Virat Kohli 

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer put on a 71-run stand with Virat Kohli. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The Netherlands chipped away and were rewarded when Bas de Leede had Rohit caught at wide long-on, but Kohli (51) and Iyer took India past 200 runs in the 29th over with a 71-run stand.

Roelof van der Merwe is congratulated by Logan van Beek after dismissing Virat Kohli 

IMAGE: Roelof van der Merwe is congratulated by Logan van Beek after dismissing Virat Kohli. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Kohli delighted the crowd with a wide array of shots after a shaky start to his quest to reach 50 ODI tons and eclipse Sachin Tendulkar's record, but Roelof van der Merwe briefly silenced fans by breaking his stumps with a flatter one.

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