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WC PHOTOS: India thrash Sri Lanka by 302 runs, qualify for semi-finals

Last updated on: November 02, 2023 21:54 IST

IMAGES from the World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Thursday

Mohammed Siraj appeals successfully for the lbw wicket of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne

IMAGE: Mohammed Siraj appeals successfully for the lbw wicket of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj intimidated and scarred an under-prepared Sri Lanka with a fast bowling exhibition for the ages as India demolished the islanders by a record 302 runs to enter the World Cup semi-finals in Mumbai on Thursday.

 

On a Wankhede track that looked placid, India piled on a mammoth 357 for 8 in 50 overs.

Mohammed Shami celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dushan Hemantha

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dushan Hemantha. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Sri Lanka crumbled under lights for a paltry 55 in 19.4 overs to ensure an eighth semi-final appearance for India at the global event. This was India's biggest victory by margin of runs in the 48-year history of the tournament.

With 14 points from seven games, Rohit Sharma's army will like to finish with an all-win record as they now face South Africa in Kolkata on November 5 and the Netherlands in Bengaluru on November 12.

Mohammed Shami celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Shami (5/18 in 5 overs) took his second five-wicket haul in this edition and with 45 scalps, became India's highest wicket-taker in World Cup history.

Siraj (3/16 in 7 overs) was equally incisive and Jasprit Bumrah (1/8 in 5 overs) formidable as ever in a picture-perfect bowling performance.

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis is bowled out by India's Mohammed Siraj  

IMAGE: Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis is bowled out by India's Mohammed Siraj. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

As the Indian juggernaut rolls on, every performance seems like a dream played on a loop.

Exactly 45 days ago, Siraj had dismantled the Sri Lankans for 50 in the Asia Cup final and it seemed that the effect of that game has stayed in the minds of the Lankans, who became the second team after Bangladesh to get eliminated from the 10-team event.

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with team-mates after taking the wicket of Pathum Nissanka

IMAGE: Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with team-mates after taking the wicket of Pathum Nissanka. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

It was fascinating to see how the same 22 yards looked so different when the two teams batted.

But the capacity Wankhede crowd wouldn't have believed what came in next.

On that placid track, the ball started jagging around as Siraj and Shami didn't give any Lankan batters any respite during the 19 odd overs that they bowled.

A jubilant Mohammed Siraj after dismissing Sadeera Samarawickrama

IMAGE: A jubilant Mohammed Siraj after dismissing Sadeera Samarawickrama. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

If Siraj came wide off the crease and delivered unplayable in-cutters, Shami bowled from close to the stumps and got the ball to move away enough that either it kissed the outside edge of the bat or there was loud thwack of the stumps.

Hitting the right areas is an oft-repeated statement but doing it day in and day out and getting those wrists into the business with perfect seam position creating doubts in batters' minds, Shami has etched his name in the history books.

On Thursday, Shami and Siraj showed quality of pitch doesn't matter, quality of players do.

Virat Kohli scored a brisk 88 off 94 balls before being dismissed to miss out on his 49th ODI century

IMAGE: Virat Kohli scored a brisk 88 off 94 balls before being dismissed to miss out on his 49th ODI century. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Earlier, Virat Kohli once again missed out on a record equalling 49th ODI hundred but Indian batters made merry on a flat deck to score a mammoth 357 for 8 against Sri Lanka.

Kohli (88 off 94 balls), who previously missed out on equalling Sachin Tendulkar's 49th ODI ton, against New Zealand in Dharamsala, enjoyed a 189-run second wicket stand with his heir apparent Shubman Gill, who looked a million dollars during his run-a-ball 92.

Shreyas Iyer brought up a 50 off just 36 deliveries 

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer brought up a 50 off just 36 deliveries. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

After a mini-slump, it was Shreyas Iyer (82 off 56 balls), who feasted against a mediocre bowling attack on a placid track, to get some form back before the match against South Africa at Eden Gardens, which will be played on a spicier track.

Starting briskly with a flurry of sixes, Iyer's innings was instrumental in taking India past 350 after they lost both Gill and Kohli in quick succession. His innings featured six sixes and three fours.

Rohit Sharma is bowled out by Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka

IMAGE: Rohit Sharma is bowled out by Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Dilshan Madushanka (5/80 in 10 overs), who bowled a peach of a delivery to get skipper Rohit Sharma (4) first up, also denied all three Indian batters, what would have been deserving hundreds. He used the slower cutters and bouncers to good effect during his second and third spells.

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill steadied India's ship

IMAGE: Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill steadied India's ship. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Kohli and Gill weathered the storm adequately well to get through the initial overs and piled up a mountain of runs to put India on top.

In the sixth over, Dushmantha Chameera almost had Kohli's wicket but could not hold on to a return catch on his follow-through which saw the ball popping out.

Virat Kohli was at his attacking best

IMAGE: Virat Kohli was at his attacking best. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Beginning with a risk-free approach, Kohli and Gill stitched India's highest-ever partnership in this World Cup for any wicket, putting on 189 runs from just 179 balls for the second wicket as India took complete control.

Kohli looked primed to equal the legendary Tendulkar's tally of most ODI centuries but met with a soft end, lobbing a straight catch to cover after a masterful 88 from 94 balls which included 11 fours. The ball stopped on him as he was committed on the drive but it hit the upper part of the blade to balloon up.

Shubman Gill scored his second fifty of the World Cup

Gill started slowly but produced a compelling knock that brought him close to his first century of the tournament. Gill's first runs came off the ninth ball that he faced, but there was no stopping the fluent batter once he pulled Madushanka with command for a four to mid-wicket and followed up with a fabulous backfoot punch on the next delivery.

Dilshan Madushanka celebrates after taking the wicket of Virat Kohli, caught by Pathum Nissanka

IMAGE: Dilshan Madushanka celebrates after taking the wicket of Virat Kohli, caught by Pathum Nissanka. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Gill also looked set for his first ton of the tournament but looking to guide a bouncer from Madushanka, he was cramped for room and caught behind for a run-a-ball 92 featuring 11 fours and two sixes.

 

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