ISLAMABAD: After setting a gigantic target of 358, Indian pace attack (Siraj, Bumrah and Shami) destroyed Sri Lankan top, middle and lower order and beat them by a huge margin of 302 runs in the ICC World Cup match being played at Wankhede Stadium India, on Thursday. By winning the contest India become the first team to ensure their slot in the semifinal with 14 points. This was the 7th consecutive victory by India in the mega event.
Chasing a huge target Sri Lankan openers and middle order toppled from the very start as the side were 3 runs for 3 wickets in the first 3.1 overs. It was Muhammad Siraj who almost repeated his Asia Cup final scenario when Sri Lanka were bowled out for 50 including 6 for 21 by Siraj.
Sri Lanka lost their first wicket on the very first ball of the innings when Bumrah dismissed Nisaanka on a duck. The second over of the innings and the first one from Siraj was even more lethal when he bowled a double wicket maiden. Siraj first removed Dimuth Karunaratne on zero as leg before the wicket and then bowled out the skipper Kusal Mendis on 1 run. I his second over Siraj got his third and dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama on a duck. At the stage Sri Lanka were 3 for the loss of 4 wickets in 3.1 overs.
At was almost the same scenario when Siraj and Bumrah destroyed the top and middle order of Sri Lanka in recent Asia Cup final in September.
Lossing 4 quick wickets in no time took Sri Lanka under immense pressure. After Bumrah and Siraj Muhammad Shami also strike in his first over as in the 10th over first he removed Asalanka on 1 run and on the very next ball dismissed Dushan Hemantha on a duck. At the stage Sri Lanka were 14 for 6 in 9.4 overs. However, this time Muhammad Shami’s form continued as he toppled the other two batters as well. In the 12th over Shami dismissed Chameera on a duck and in his next over he bowled out Angelo Mathews on 12. At the stage Sri Lanka were 29 for 9 in 13.1 over. Later number 9 and 10 Maheesh Theekshana and Kasun Rajitha showed some resistance to lower the runs gap in the humiliated defeat.
However, Muhammad Shami was unstoppable who grabbed his 5th wicket to remove Rajitha on 14. At the time Sri Lanka were almost near to the same total (50), they had in the Asia Cup. In the 20th over, Sri Lanka were all out on 55 and lost the game by a huge margin of 302 runs, the second highest ever margin defeat in the World Cup history. The highest ever margin defeat also occurred in this world Cup when Australia beat Netherlands by 309 runs few days before.
From India Muhammad Shami was the leading wicket taker while grabbing 5 for conceding 18 runs in his 5 over spill. Muhammad Shami also became the leading wicket taker for India with 14 dismissals in just 3 matches. Muhammad Siraj also took 3 crucial wickets while Bumrah got 1 wicket.
Sri Lanka Batting
Earlier winning the toss Sri Lanka invited India to bat first on a flat track. Sri Lanka bowlers Madushanka bowled out the in-form Rohit Sharma on the second ball of his first over. However, the number three batter Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill managed to release the pressure and stayed on the crease.
Both completed their half centuries and managed to push the scoreboard to the first hundred runs with an average of 6 runs per over. They contributed 189 runs partnership for the team and took their side to a solid position. However, in the 30th over Madushanka finally managed to get rid of Shubman Gill on 92. His inning included 2 sixes and 11 boundaries. In his next over Madushanka also removed Virat Kohli on 88.
At the stage India were 196 for 3 in 31.3 overs. After Kohli and Gill, the in-form Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul took charge and pushed the scoreboard ahead. They added 50 runs partnership to the total, before KL Rahul got out on 21 in the 40th over. The next was Suryakumar Yadev who was also removed by Madushanka on 12. At the stage India were 276 for 5 in 41.3 overs. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer also completed his half century and helped his side to move the scoreboard ahead the 300-run mark. After completing his half century Iyer expedited his innings with a high run-rate and added some crucial runs for the side. In the 48th over, the leading wicket taker Madushanka strike again and dismissed Iyer on 82. Iyer faced just 56 balls and his quick knock included 6 sixes and 3 fours. In the last 3 overs Jadeja also added some quick runs (35 on 24) to the total to take India to a huge total of 357 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs.
From Sri Lanka Madushanka was the leading wicket taker while grabbing 5 wickets in his 10 over spill. Chameera got one wicket.
Sri Lanka Team:
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka
