India defeated Sri Lanka by 302 runs in Mumbai at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 as their three-pronged pace attack wreaked havoc.

India's pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, were in their element with the new ball, reducing Sri Lanka to 3/4 within the first 19 balls of the second innings.

Half-centuries from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer illuminated the first innings, before India’s seam attack took over, dismantling Sri Lanka in a dominant performance under the lights of the Wankhede Stadium.

Mohammed Shami became India’s leading wicket-taker at Men’s Cricket World Cups in just his 14th appearance, taking 5/18 from five overs as the primary contributor.

However, the outstanding contributions from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had already placed India in a commanding position. At one point, Sri Lanka was four down for just three runs during a ruthless opening powerplay.

The result marked the fourth-largest margin of victory by runs in the history of men’s ODI cricket, the second-largest margin at a World Cup (second only to Australia’s win against the Netherlands a week ago), and India's most significant win at a World Cup.

Previously, after Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Rohit Sharma (4) early, Kohli and Gill put together a massive 189-run partnership for the second wicket, setting India up for a substantial total.

Neither managed to reach triple figures, with Madushanka removing Gill for a brisk 92 and then dismissing Kohli for 88.

However, Iyer’s explosive 82 from 56 deliveries helped India accelerate toward the end, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 358 to win.

Madushanka finished with five wickets, accounting for five of India’s top six batsmen in an outstanding individual performance. However, his efforts were overshadowed by the opposition's fast bowlers, who delivered an exceptional display that thrilled the Mumbai crowd.

After posting their highest total of the tournament, India's new-ball bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka during the powerplay. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah removed all of the top four batsmen in a remarkable early flurry of wickets.

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Sadeera Samarawickrama all departed without scoring, with both openers falling to the first deliveries they faced. Captain Kusal Mendis could only add one run as Sri Lanka collapsed to four down in a stunning turn of events.

Nissanka (0) was dismissed by the very first ball of the innings, trapped lbw by a trademark Bumrah inswinger. Siraj also struck with his first ball of the innings, removing Karunaratne, and later dismissing Samarawickrama in the same over.

A peach of a delivery from Siraj effectively extinguished any remaining hopes for Sri Lanka as he bowled Mendis, clipping the top of the off-stump so forcefully that it broke the bails.

Sri Lanka's situation worsened when Mohammed Shami took two wickets in two balls, leaving the score at 14/6.

Charith Asalanka was the first to fall to Shami for a resolute 24-ball 1, and Dushan Hemantha became the third batsman to fall for a golden duck.

Shami's brilliant World Cup campaign continued as he tore through Sri Lanka's middle and lower order, finishing with remarkable figures of 5/18.

Siraj's brilliant opening spell earned him figures of 3/16 from seven overs, while Bumrah ended with 1/8 from five.

India's batting display left the Wankhede crowd in awe. Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl first in the Mumbai afternoon. The decision seemed inspired when Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Rohit Sharma (4) with just the second ball of the match.

India's top order faced some challenging deliveries from Dilshan Madushanka and Dushmantha Chameera. After the first Powerplay, the duo capitalized on a pitch that became increasingly batting-friendly.

Kohli reached yet another ODI fifty in the 17th over, followed by Gill reaching his own in the 19th over, with India scoring at six runs per over by the halfway point of the innings.

Gill appeared ready to increase the scoring rate further, but Madushanka's return to the attack shifted the momentum, with Gill falling short of a century when he edged behind to the keeper.

The situation improved for Sri Lanka when Madushanka dismissed Kohli with another off-cutter. The Indian veteran attempted to place the ball through covers but offered a catch to Pathum Nissanka, departing for 88.

Following the dismissals of Gill and Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul began India’s second phase of rebuilding the innings. With Rahul securing one end, Iyer attacked from the other.

One of Iyer’s boundaries was an enormous six off Kasun Rajitha in the 36th over, measuring 106 meters, the largest hit of the tournament.

Rahul was dismissed for 21 by Dushmantha Chameera, bringing another Mumbai player, Suryakumar Yadav, to the crease, accompanied by cheers from the Wankhede crowd.

The big-hitting number six started with two immaculate straight fours but was removed by the dangerous Madushanka for just 12, leaving the game finely poised in the final ten overs of the first innings.

Shreyas Iyer unleashed a barrage of sixes after reaching his fifty, hitting six maximums in his excellent 82 off 56 balls. He was dismissed by Madushanka, who finished with 5/80 from his ten overs.

Despite some late hitting from Ravindra Jadeja, India's total reached 357/8. Nevertheless, they might have been slightly disappointed that they didn't score more runs.

However, the bowlers ensured that the target was never in jeopardy, and the match brought back memories of the recent Asia Cup Final between the same two teams.

Sri Lanka's defeat makes it highly unlikely for them to reach the tournament's final four. India can now start looking forward to a potential semi-final appearance, possibly on the same ground in less than two weeks.

Source Geo Super

BDST: 2151 HRS, NOV 02, 2023
MSK