India vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2023: Shami's blistering bowling propels IND to semi-final

India stormed into the semi-finals of World Cup 2023 on Thursday with a massive 302-run over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Mohammed Shami’s incredible figures of 5/18 and Shreyas Iyer’s attacking knock of 82 were the major architects behind India’s comprehensive win as Men in Blue secured their seventh win from seven matches in World Cup 2023.

Ieyr’s 82 and the fifties from Shubman Gill (92) and Virat Kohli (88) helped India score 357/8 batting first. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 55 in 19.4 overs. Apart from Shami, Mohammed Siraj took three wickets. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.

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Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss on the day but decided to bowl first on a batting-friendly track in Mumbai and at the start it seemed like they had made the right decision after Rohit Sharma got out on the second ball of the innings, clean bowled by Dilshan Madushanka, after he began with a four. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill then steadied India’s innings and laid the foundation for the big total with an 189-run partnership off 178 balls.

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Both batters looked set for their individual tons before Gill got caught out off Madushanka in the 30th over and Kohli departed in the 32nd over. Madushanka was the wicket-taker once again as the former India captain was outfoxed by a slower ball and the catch was taken at short cover. India however had a good platform at 196/3 and KL Rahul and Iyer added 60 runs quickly in 47 balls before Rahul (21) got out to Dushmantha Chameera after playing a check shot through covers which was taken easily by the fielder.

Iyer, however, didn’t stray away from his aim as he played the role of the aggressor despite wickets falling from the other end and scored his runs at a strike rate of 146.43. He also fell to Madushanka in the 48th over after scoring 82 off 56 balls which included six sixes and the longest of the tournament at 106m. This was the fifth wicket for Madushanka who had earlier also dismissed Surykumar Yadav (12).

With the slower ball holding up a bit, India weren’t at their fluid best in the death overs, and that made Iyer’s knock even more special. The Men in Blue added 93 runs in the last 10 overs, however, going by Mumbai’s reputation, it seems like they are 20-30 runs short at the least.

Ravindra Jadeja made 35, Mohammed Shami scored 2 and Jasprit Bumrah was not out on 1 as India’s innings came to a close.

A victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday will ensure qualification to the semi-finals for India.