Rattle Sri Lanka by 302 runs for their seventh win in a row

Two times former champions India crushed former champions Sri Lanka by a record 302 runs to ensure their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday 2nd November, 2023. In the process the Rohit Sharma led team with their seventh win in a row booked a place in the knockout semi-final stage with two league matches to spare.

Defending a huge score of 358, Indian pacers skittled out their rivals for mere 55 in the 20th over after reducing them to 14 for 6 inside the first power play. Mohammed Shami (5/18) registered his second five wicket haul and was well supported by fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj who took three, two of in space of five balls in his first over after Jasprit Bumrah had set the stage on fire with a wicket of the very first-ball of the innings of Pathum Nissanka (0). The massive win was one similar to that which was inflicted by Men-in-Blue against the Islanders in the recently concluded Asia Cup final, where host Sri Lanka could post only 50 runs in 15.2 overs, before India achieved the target without losing a wicket in 43.5 overs for their record eighth continental crown.

Earlier put in to bat India lost Rohit (4) to left arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka in the second ball of the innings, before Shubman Gill (92), Virat Kohli (88) steadied the innings with their 189 runs association off 179 balls for the second wicket without much risks. Both the well set batsman however played a false shot that was induced by a slower one by Dilshan (5/84) in quick succession, when in sight of their respective centuries.  Local boy Shreyas Iyer reposed the faith in him by the management with a quick fire 82 (his 16th ODI fifty) which included three boundaries and six sixes of mere 56 balls in the company of Ravindra Jadeja (35). This included a massive 106-metre one over long-on off Dilshan in the 48th over of the innings, before the bowler had the last laugh as he had Shreyas caught at cover in the same over by Maheesh Theekshana for his fifth scalp of the match. His innings provided the necessary impetus to the score line as India added 93 in their last ten overs, despite the run-out of Ravindra at the striker's end in the last ball of the innings while attempting a second run. India in the end managed to score 357 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.  

Player of the Match, Mohammad Shami who became the leading wicket taker in ODI World Cup with his second five wicket haul in three outings post the match said, "Our bowling is in good shape and with the kind of rhythm that we are in, everyone is enjoying and everyone is happy for each other's success.” 

Shami who dismissed Charith Asalanka (1) and Dushan Hemantha (0) off consecutive balls to be in line for a hat-trick for the third time in the World Cup. Dushmantha Chameera (0) however thwarted the danger before he too fell to Shami soon after, added “ I always focus on hitting the good areas and length. It's very important to be in rhythm in white ball cricket and hit the good areas. The kind of support we get from the crowd, I want to thank each and every one of them”.

Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka Skipper whose team lost its fifth match in the ongoing tourney said, "I am very disappointed with the team's performance and with myself also. They bowled really well, a little bit of seam movement under lights as well. Madushanka bowled really well and our bowlers did well in the middle overs. They bowled really well in the first 6 overs, and I think they deserve all the credit tonight. We have another two  games and I hope we come back strong in the next game (Bangladesh at New Delhi) ."

A relaxed Rohit Sharma, India Skipper was very happy that his team had officially qualified for the last four stage with an unbeaten record largely due to all-round effort from his squad. The way we approached these seven games starting the one against Australia in Chennai, it was quite clinical, everyone put in the effort and a lot of individuals have put their hand up. It was a good challenge to put runs on the board, and that's the kind of template you gotta have when you want to score that many runs. 350 on any pitch is a very good score and a lot of credit goes to the batting unit for taking us to that score. Shreyas Iyer is a very strong lad and today he did what he is known for and that is what we expect from him. Siraj has got a lot of skills when he is operating with the new ball. To put in a performance back-to-back shows the quality of the seamers and if there is something in the conditions, they are quite lethal. All in all, it was pleasing to watch and I hope they continue to do it that way," added Rohit Sharma.  

Brief scores (Round robin league match no. 33):

India – 357/8 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 92 (92b: 11x4s, 2x6s), Virat Kohli 88 (94b: 11x4s) , Shreyas Iyer 82 (56b: 3x4s, 6x6s), Ravindra Jadeja 35 (24b: 1x4s, 1x6); Dilshan Madushanka 5/80, Dushmantha Chameera 1/71) beat Sri Lanka – 55 all out in 19. 4 overs (Kasun Rajitha 14 (17b: 2x4s), Maheesh Theekshana 12* (23b: 2x4s), Angelo Mathews 12 (25b:1x4); Mohammed Shami 5/18, Mohammed Siraj 3/16, Ravindra Jadeja 1/4, Jasprit Bumrah 1/8) by 302 runs. Player of the Match:  Mohammed Shami (India)