Team India defeated Sri Lanka by a whopping 302 runs in match number 33 of the 2023 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. With the victory, the Men in Blue also became the first team to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the ICC tournament.
Team India was sent into bat by Sri Lanka after losing the toss and got off to a disappointing start as Dilshan Madushanka bowled over Rohit Sharma for 4. However, Shubman Gill (92 off 92) and Virat Kohli (88 off 94) added 189 runs for the second wicket that put India in an impressive position.
Both set hitters were dismissed in quick succession after which India also lost KL Rahul (21) and Suryakumar Yadav (12). However, Shreyas Iyer hit a brilliant 82 off 56 balls, hitting three fours and six sixes. Towards the end, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also scored with a cameo of 35 in 24 balls.
Chasing a huge target of 358, Sri Lanka were bowled out for an embarrassing 55 in 19.4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah earlier trapped opener Pathum Nissanka leg with the first ball of the chase.
Mohammed Shami (5/18) and Mohammed Siraj (3/16) then ran through the rest of the batting order. The margin of victory, 302 runs, marks India’s biggest victory in a men’s ODI World Cup match and is also the second-largest margin of victory in terms of runs in the history of the ICC tournament.
India next take on South Africa in the 2023 World Cup
After winning seven out of seven matches, the Men in Blue will face South Africa in the 2023 World Cup at the iconic Eden Gardens in Calcutta on Sunday, November 5.
The Proteas are second in the points table, having won six of their seven matches. Their only defeat came against the Netherlands in Dharamsala, a shortened match in which they failed to chase down a target of 246 in 43 overs.
South Africa is on a four-match winning spree, having defeated England, Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand. In their last match, they defeated the Kiwis by 190 runs in Pune. They batted first and scored 357/4 as Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen hit hundreds.
Keshav Maharaj (4/46) and Marco Jansen (3/31) then played with the ball as New Zealand were bowled out for 167 in 35.3 overs.