India become first team to secure semi-final spot in WC 2023
Mumbai, Nov 2: India recorded their largest ever World Cup win, as well as the second-highest by any nation and secured their place in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals after skittling Sri Lanka for just 55 to seal an emphatic 302-run victory in Mumbai.
The tournament hosts have been in superb form during the Cricket World Cup, and their 302-run win over Sri Lanka on Thursday earned Rohit Sharma’s side a guaranteed spot in the knockout stages. India have two further group-stage fixtures to come, against South Africa in Kolkata and Netherlands in Bengaluru, but cannot be mathematically denied a top-four spot having won all seven of their matches so far. The remainder of the semi-final lineup is yet to be determined, with Pakistan and Afghanistan still in the mix, just two points behind Australia and New Zealand in the standings.
But India can now begin to look ahead to the crunch knockout fixtures in a fortnight’s time. A win over South Africa next up would leave India certain of finishing top of the table, which would see them play in the first semi-final on November 15 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai – the same ground as India’s latest demolition of Sri Lanka.Should India fail to finish first in the table they will feature in the second semi-final between the second and third-placed teams, which is to be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16. Few would have bet against India cruising into the semi-finals, with their home advantage and stellar form leading into the tournament. But this demolition was their most astonishing result yet, a thoroughly one-sided encounter that saw Sri Lanka on top for only one ball all day the second delivery, when Madushanka splattered Rohit’s stumps.
In truth, the result felt inevitable before that when Mendis chose to bowl first, but India will be delighted at how ruthlessly they secured a seventh victory in a row and their biggest World Cup win.
After scoring 357, their biggest World Cup total on home soil, despite a rare failure from the in-form Rohit, they had the game essentially won inside four overs of the chase when Sri Lanka slumped to 3-4 – and that was before Shami had even come on to bowl. Jasprit Bumrah’s ferocious opening spell kickstarted the carnage, pinning Pathum Nissanka lbw with the first ball as Sri Lanka’s chase started horrendously. (Agencies)