KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer smash centuries as India crush Netherlands at World Cup

KL Rahul smashed the fastest century by an Indian at a World Cup and Shreyas Iyer also hit a brilliant hundred as the hosts cruised to a 160-run victory over the Netherlands in Bangalore on Sunday.

The victory sets India up perfectly for their semi-final showdown against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday and maintains their 100 per cent win record – played nine, won nine.

On a good batting surface at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, India's top three of Rohit Sharma (61), Shubman Gill (51) and Virat Kohli (51) all reached their half-centuries before Iyer (128 not out), compiling his fourth ODI hundred, and Rahul (102 off 64) blasted India to 410-4 in their 50 overs.

Faced with record World Cup chase for victory, bottom-of-the-table Netherlands made a solid start thanks to Max O'Dowd (30), Colin Ackermann (35), Sybrand Engelbrecht (45) and Teja Nidamanuru (54) but were never really in the hunt and were rolled over for 250 in 47.5 overs.

Mohammed Siraj (2-29) impressed alongside Kuldeep Yadav (2-41), Jasprit Bumrah (2-33) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-49).

Iyer eased to his hundred in 84 balls in an innings that included 10 fours and five sixes, while Rahul needed only 62 balls to reach the landmark by hitting two massive sixes in the last over.

The pair's partnership was worth 208 runs, the highest fourth-wicket stand in World Cups, as India rattled off 126 runs in their final 10 overs.

India captain Sharma said after the game: “Honestly, since we started the tournament it was always about taking one game at a time and playing that game well.

“11 games in all if you go all the way, that's a lot of games. It's important for us to break it down and focus on one game and play it well.

“That's what everyone did. You play in different