India’s record-breaking performance secures a World Cup semi-final spot
In a sensational display of bowling, India managed to dismiss Sri Lanka for just 55 runs, securing their spot in the World Cup semi-finals. Sri Lanka faced a daunting task, chasing a World Cup record of 358 to win in Mumbai, but struggled to reach 14-6 within the first 10 overs. Although they narrowly avoided the lowest one-day international total of 35, the game ended in a crushing 302-run victory for India in just 19.4 overs.
India had set an imposing target of 357-8, with notable contributions from Shubman Gill (92), Virat Kohli (88), and Shreyas Iyer (82). While the Indian bowlers played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s batting woes, the Sri Lankan team also suffered due to a lacklustre fielding performance that saw key chances being missed.
Despite the early dismissal of India’s captain Rohit Sharma, Gill and Kohli formed a crucial partnership, putting on 189 runs and taking control of the match. The Sri Lankan bowling attack struggled in the heat, further questioning Kusal Mendis’s decision to bowl first.
Later in the innings, Shreyas Iyer added to the punishment, delighting the crowd with a powerful 56-ball knock that included six sixes, including one measuring 106 meters.
The noise from the crowd only grew as Sri Lankan wickets continued to fall, with Mohammed Shami becoming India’s leading World Cup wicket-taker with 45 wickets in just 14 matches.
For Sri Lanka, seamer Dilshan Madushanka’s 5-80 performance was a positive note, making him the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup with 18 wickets.
With this victory, India has secured a place in the semi-finals and remains unbeaten in the tournament. Sri Lanka’s qualification hopes are not entirely extinguished, but they must win their remaining two games and rely on other results to progress.
India’s dominant performance in this match reinforces their status as strong contenders in the tournament, and their fans will be hoping for continued success as they progress towards the semi-finals.