India humiliates Sri Lanka by 302 runs

India crushed Sri Lanka by a massive margin of 302 runs. The pace duo of Mohammed Shami, who took 5 for 18, and Mohammed Siraj with figures of 3 for 16, bowled brilliantly to bundle out Sri Lanka for just 55 runs in 19.4 overs in their Cricket World Cup match played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday.

This was Sri Lanka’s worst performance in a World Cup, reminiscent of their recent Asia Cup final where they were bowled out for 50. In fact, Shami’s five-wicket haul set new a record as highest wickets taken by an Indian bowler in World Cup history with 45 wicket.

Sri Lanka got off to a poor start, losing four early wickets. Nissanka was dismissed for a first-ball duck, triggering Dimuth Karunaratne’s exit. Skipper Kusal Mendis was out for just 1, bowled by Siraj and the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama also fell for a duck. Two more batters, Dushan and Dushmantha Chameera, were back in the pavilion without scoring. Angelo Matthews scored 12 from 25 balls, while Maheesh Theekshana added 12 runs from 23 balls and Kasun Rajitha chipped in with 14 runs from 17 balls. India maintained their unbeaten streak with 14 points. Mohammed Shami was named the Man of the Match, while Dilshan Madushanka’s madien five-wicket haul went in vain.

India was invited to bat first, and their intent was clear – to attack from the beginning. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s stay was brief only managing a boundary on the first ball and was clean bowled by a terrific delivery from Dilshan Madushanka on the second ball of the innings.

Experienced Virat Kohli came in at number three but had a shaky start. He gave a hard catch to slip fielder Dimuth Karunaratne off the very first ball he faced. Dushmantha Chameera dropped a return catch when Kohli was at 10. Kohli seized this opportunity to revert to his usual aggressive game, forming a 189-run second-wicket partnership with Shubman Gill. Kohli was on track to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the highest number of ODI centuries (49) but he missed the chance as Pathum Nissanka took a simple catch at short cover. Madushanka claimed his third wicket by dismissing Kohli who scored 88 in 94 balls with 11 fours.

Gill played a fluent knock of 92 from 92 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes. Shreyas Iyer who hadn’t been in great form previously, played an aggressive innings and finally got out after scoring 82 in 56 balls with 3 fours and six huge sixes. Ravindra Jadeja contributed 35 runs in 24 balls with a four and six. The promising Dilshan Madushanka was the only successful bowler achieving his best ODI figures of 5 for 80 in his ten-over spell. Dushmantha Chameera was heavily punished by Indian batsmen, finishing with figures 1 for 71 in his ten overs, which included two maiden overs.

The mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana failed to meet expectations, going wicketless and conceding 67 runs in his 10-over spell.

The only change in the Sri Lanka team was Dushan Hemantha replacing Dhananjaya de Silva. Hemantha who played his second World Cup game, went wicketless and conceded 52 runs in his 8-over spell.

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