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In a remarkable display of fast bowling, India crushed Sri Lanka by a record 302 runs in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup match, securing their spot in the semifinals. The game was played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, and it saw India amass a mammoth total of 357 for 8 in 50 overs.

On a seemingly placid wicket, the Indian batters took full advantage. Virat Kohli missed the opportunity to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries, falling just 12 runs short. He formed a dominant 189-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who played a spectacular run-a-ball knock of 92. Shreyas Iyer also made a significant contribution with 82 runs off 56 balls, including six sixes and three fours.

However, Dilshan Madushanka (5/80 in 10 overs) put up an impressive performance for Sri Lanka. He dismissed Rohit Sharma for just 4 runs with a brilliant delivery and also prevented all three Indian batters from reaching a deserved century. Kohli was poised to equal Tendulkar's record but fell for 88 runs, while Gill came close to his century with an explosive innings of 92 runs, featuring 11 fours and two sixes.

Despite the batting excellence, the star of the match was the Indian bowling duo of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Shami took five wickets for just 18 runs in his 5 overs and became India's highest wicket-taker in World Cup history with 45 scalps. Siraj was equally incisive with 3 wickets for 16 runs in his 7 overs, while Jasprit Bumrah was formidable as ever.

Also Read: IND vs SL Highlights and Full Scorecard

India's spectacular performance in this match secured their eighth appearance in the World Cup semifinals. With 14 points from seven games, they are looking to finish the group stage with an all-win record, as they will now face South Africa in Kolkata on November 5 and the Netherlands in Bengaluru on November 12. This victory marked India's largest-ever win by a margin of runs in the 48-year history of the tournament.

The Wankhede crowd witnessed a remarkable change in the pitch as the same surface that favored batting became a bowler's paradise. Shami and Siraj were relentless in their attack, using seam movement to dismantle the Sri Lankan batters. Sri Lanka crumbled under the lights, managing to score only 55 runs in 19.4 overs. This win also meant that Sri Lanka became the second team, after Bangladesh, to be eliminated from the 10-team tournament.

In conclusion, it was a game of contrasting halves as India's batters set a massive target, and their fast bowlers made quick work of the Sri Lankan lineup to secure an emphatic victory and a spot in the World Cup semifinals.

 

Inputs from PTI