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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

ICC Men's World Cup 2023: Red-hot India take on Sri Lanka in World Cup battle of unequals

Unbeaten in six straight games and largely unchallenged for longer spans, India have displayed traits of being a champion side which has the knack of staging remarkable fightbacks

Our Web Desk Mumbai Published 02.11.23, 10:45 AM
Virat Kohli playing a shot

Virat Kohli playing a shot PTI

  • Jadeja introduced into the attack. And OUT! Sri Lanka all out at 55 as India clinches a massive 302-run victory
  • Kuldeep Yadav introduced into the attack. 2 runs in the over.
  • Shami continues. And OUT! 5-wicket haul for Mohammad Shami! Sri Lanka 49/9 in 18 overs
  • Siraj Continues. 1 runs from the over.
  • Shami continues. 5 runs of the over. Sri Lanka 42/8 in 16 overs
  • Siraj continues. 1 run off the over. Sri Lanka 37/8 in 15 overs
  • Shami continues. And BOWLED! Angelo Matthews departs for 12 of 25. Rajitha comes into bat. 7 runs of the over. Sri Lanka 36/8 in 14 overs
  • Siraj replaces Bumrah. 7 runs from that over. Sri Lanka 29/7 in 13 overs
  • Shami continues. And OUT! Another blow for Sri lanka as Chameera departs for a duck. Sri Lanka 22/7 in 12 overs
  • Bumrah continues. 7 runs from this over. Sri lanka 21/6 in 11 overs
  • Shami replaces Siraj and takes two quick wickets. First, Asalanka is tempted to play a drive and gives a catch to Jadeja at backward point. Then, Hemantha plays a drive but Shami's seam movement gets the better of him, resulting in an outside edge straight to KL Rahul. Sri Lanka's score plummets to 14/6 in 10 overs
  • Bumrah continues. 2 runs off the over. Sri Lanka 14/4 after 9 overs
  • Siraj continues. A maiden for him.
  • Bumrah on his fourth over. 3 runs of the over. Sri Lanka 12/4 after 7 overs
  • Siraj continues. Only 2 runs from the over. Sri Lanka 9/4 after 6 overs
  • Bumrah continues. Charith Asalanka and Angelo Matthews are at the crease. Maiden over for Bumrah, Sri Lanka 7/4 after 5 overs
  • Siraj strikes again! The stadium is absolutely electric as the stumps of skipper Mendis are flying around. 3-wicket haul for Siraj as Mendis departs for 1 of 10 balls. Sri Lanka 7/4 after 4 overs
  • Bumrah continues. Sri Lanka 3/3 after 3 overs
  • Siraj strikes again as Samarawickrama departs for a duck, Sri Lanka 2/3 after 2 overs
  • Mohammad Siraj strikes on his first ball. Dimuth Karunarathne departs for a golden duck. Sri Lanka 2/2
  • Sri Lanka 2/1 in 1 over
  • Jasprit Bumrah strikes on the first ball as Nissanka departs for golden duck, Sri Lanka 0/1. Kusal Mendis comes in at number 3
  • Sri Lanka starts their chase
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Virat Kohli once again missed out on a record equalling 49th ODI hundred but Indian batters made merry on a flat deck to score a mammoth 357 for 8 against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match here on Thursday.

Kohli (88 off 94 balls), who previously missed out on equalling Sachin Tendulkar's 49th ODI ton, against New Zealand in Dharamsala, enjoyed a 189-run second wicket stand with his heir apparent Shubman Gill, who looked a million dollars during his run-a-ball 92.

After a mini-slump, it was Shreyas Iyer (82 off 56 balls), who feasted against a mediocre bowling attack on a placid track, to get some form back before the match against South Africa at Eden Gardens, which will be played on a spicier track.

Starting briskly with a flurry of sixes, Iyer's innings was instrumental in taking India past 350 after they lost both Gill and Kohli in quick succession. His innings featured six sixes and three fours.

Dilshan Madushanka (5/80 in 10 overs), who bowled a peach of a delivery to get skipper Rohit Sharma (4) first up, also denied all three Indian batters, what would have been deserving hundreds. He used the slower cutters and bouncers to good effect during his second and third spells.

Kohli and Gill weathered the storm adequately well to get through the initial overs and piled up a mountain of runs to put India on top.

In the sixth over, Dushmantha Chameera almost had Kohli's wicket but could not hold on to a return catch on his follow-through which saw the ball popping out.

Beginning with a risk-free approach, Kohli and Gill stitched India’s highest-ever partnership in this World Cup for any wicket, putting on 189 runs from just 179 balls for the second wicket as India took complete control.

Kohli looked primed to equal the legendary Tendulkar's tally of most ODI centuries but met with a soft end, lobbing a straight catch to cover after a masterful 88 from 94 balls which included 11 fours. The ball stopped on him as he was committed on the drive but it hit the upper part of the blade to balloon up.

Gill started slowly but produced a compelling knock that brought him close to his first century of the tournament. Gill's first runs came off the ninth ball that he faced, but there was no stopping the fluent batter once he pulled Madushanka with command for a four to mid-wicket and followed up with a fabulous backfoot punch on the next delivery.

Gill also looked set for his first ton of the tournament but looking to guide a bouncer from Madushanka, he was cramped for room and caught behind for a run-a-ball 92 featuring 11 fours and two sixes.

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