(REUTERS)
India moved back to the top of the Cricket World Cup table with an exceptionally one-sided contest in Mumbai. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first. They dismissed India’s captain, Rohit Sharma (4), with the second ball of the day but dropped the dangerous Virat Kohli (88) and Shubman Gill (92) who made them pay.
A partnership of over 100 set the perfect platform for the home side to set a high total and when both were dismissed quickly in didn’t stop India’s momentum. Shreyas Iyer came to the crease and blasted a quickfire 82 while Ravindra Jadeja made a cameo of 35 as India set Sri Lanka 358 runs to win.
They didn’t get close. Jasprit Bumrah took a wicket with the first ball of Sri Lanka’s reply and India never looked back. Mohammed Siraj (3-16) and Mohammed Shami (5-18) ran through the top order as Kusal Mendis’ side were bowled out inside 20 overs for just 55.
India have seven wins from seven and look on course to triumph in their home tournament once again.
Sri Lanka all out for 55, India win by 302 runs
India racked up a monster score of 357 thanks to half centuries from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer before their fast bowlers ripped through Sri Lanka’s line-up.
Jasprit Bumrah took a wicket with his first ball, Mohammed Siraj claimed three, Mohammed Shami became India’s leading wicket taker in World Cups as his fiver-for takes him to 45 in total and Ravindra Jadeja ended the innings with one for himself.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 15:08
WICKET! Dilshan Madushanka ct Shreyas Iyer b Ravindra Jadeja 5 (6), Sri Lanka 55 all out
Jadeja floats the ball up and lets Madushanka go after it. He swipes towards the legside but skews the ball straight into the air and Shreyas Iyer claims the catch.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 15:05
Sri Lanka 55-9 (19.3), Madushanka 5, Theekshana 12, Jadeja 0-4 (0.3), target 358
Ravindra Jadeja is getting a bowl now that Mohammed Shami has his five wicket haul.
His first delivery is spanked away by Madushanka who picks up four runs. The Sri Lankans will prefere to face the two spinners, they can score off them…
Mike Jones2 November 2023 15:03
Sri Lanka 51-9 (19), Madushanka 1, Theekshana 12, Kuldeep 0-3 (2), target 358
Theekshana works Kuldeep away for one and brings his team to a half century. Madushanka then gets off the mark with a nice push into the offside.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 15:00
WICKET! Kasun Rajitha ct Shubman Gill b Mohammed Shami 14 (17), Sri Lanka 49-9 (18)
Rajitha, perhaps confident from a couple of nice strokes earlier in the over, goes for the drive a nicks the ball to Shubman Gill at second slip.
Sri Lanka are on the brink.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:58
Sri Lanka 49-8 (17.5), Rajitha 14, Theekshana 11, Shami 4-18 (4.5), target 358
It does seem to be getting easier to bat. Rajitha nails the ball away through cover for four more runs.
Shami is arriving wide on the crease and looking to angle the ball into the stumps. Rajitha is playing and missing at more than he hits but the ball is doing as much now and flies past the off stump.
A flick into the legside brings Rajitha two more…
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:56
Sri Lanka 43-8 (17), Rajitha 8, Theekshana 11, Kuldeep 0-1 (1), target 358
Rohit Sharma seems to have heard me.
Kuldeep Yadav is brought into the attack to try and tempt the batters into a loose shot. He’ll target the stumps and hope for a bit of spin back into the right-handers.
Rajitha manages to see out the first three balls before taking Kuldeep for a single.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:53
Sri Lanka 42-8 (16), Rajitha 7, Theekshana 11, Shami 4-12 (4), target 358
One problem for India is that they’ve moved away from the consistent lines and lengths that have brought them eight wickets so far. Both bowlers are bowling shorter, trying to hurry the two batters.
This is why. A full ball from Shami is drilled down the gorund by Theekshana who collects four more. The Sri Lankans are waiting for anything in their arc so they can go after it.
Maybe it’s time for some spin?
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:50
Sri Lanka 37-8 (15), Rajitha 6, Theekshana 7, Siraj 3-16 (7), target 358
The runs will start to come now as the Sri Lankan batters have some fun. India need just two magic deliveries and the match is theirs though.
Rajitha pushes the ball away for one.
Siraj has a short leg in place and begins testing Theekshana with some short balls. The batter does well to keep away from the ball.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:45
Sri Lanka 36-8 (14), Rajitha 5, Theekshana 7, Shami 4-7 (3), target 358
Kasun Rajitha is the new batter. He strides onto the front foot and drives Shami away for four!
There’s nothing to lose for the batters now, India are keeping the field up so there are runs to score if they beat the in-field. Shami wants a five-for though and push Rajitha into the crease. KL Rahul fumbles the ball and the batters sprint through for a bye.
A couple more singles bring Sri Lanka up to 36, one more run and they’ve avoided the lowest total in World Cup history.
Mike Jones2 November 2023 14:40
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