NEW DELHI: Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul struck dazzling centuries as India produced a breathtaking batting display to post a mammoth 410 for four against the Netherlands in their final league match of the World Cup in Bengaluru on Sunday.
While Shreyas (128 not out) slammed an ODI career best score, KL Rahul fired the fastest World Cup hundred by an Indian, cracking a 64-ball 102 as both added a staggering 208 runs off 128 balls for the fourth wicket.
India's top three of Rohit Sharma (61), Virat Kohli (51) and Shubman Gill (51) also scored sizzling fifties after India opted to bat.
After their colleagues had perished following quick-fire fifties on a good batting track at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Iyer hit his fourth ton before Rahul joined the party as the duo lit up the stage on the Hindu festival of Diwali.
India put the Netherlands to the sword as skipper Rohit and fellow opener Gill picked off boundaries at will to give them a superb platform with 91 runs in the powerplay.
Gill was particularly severe on the bowlers with three fours and four huge sixes, but the world's top-ranked batsman found the fielder in the deep while taking on a short delivery from Paul van Meekeren after reaching his 12th half-century.
The Netherlands kept chipping away and were rewarded when seamer 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 brisk 71-run stand that kept them on track for a huge total.
Kohli delighted the crowd with a wide array of shots after a wobbly start to his quest to reach 50 one-day international tons and eclipse Sachin Tendulkar, but spinner Roelof van der Merwe silenced fans by breaking his stumps with a flatter one.
India are seeking a ninth straight victory to maintain their 100% record ahead of their semi-final meeting with fourth-placed New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday, while a win for the Dutch could secure 2025 Champions Trophy qualification.
(With inputs from Reuters)
