In a display of sheer dominance, India clinched a resounding victory by 302 runs against Sri Lanka. With this triumph, India has now strung together seven consecutive wins in the tournament. They are also the first team to make it to the Semis of the ongoing World Cup.
The Men in Blue put up a staggering total of 357/8 in their allotted 50 overs, setting a formidable target for Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill led the Indian batting order with a majestic 92 off 92 balls, anchoring the innings with grace and stability. Not far behind, Virat Kohli, the maestro, continued to weave his magic, contributing a solid 88 off 94 deliveries. While both the batters missed out on centuries, Sri Lanka’s woes did not end there. Adding to the batting fireworks, Shreyas Iyer played a blistering knock, accelerating the score with a quick 82 off 56 balls, leaving the Sri Lankan bowlers in disarray. During the innings, he also hit the biggest six of the tournament, a 106-meter hoik over long-on.
Despite the colossal target, the Sri Lankan batting lineup was expected to put up a fight. However, the Indian pace attack, led by Bumrah and Siraj, had different plans. They dismissed both the openers for golden ducks. Siraj continued to trouble Sri Lankan batsmen and chipped away wickets at one end. Following his lead, Shami, with his blistering pace and accuracy, dismantled the Sri Lankan middle order, ending with remarkable figures of 5/18. This also happened to be his 3rd 5-wicket haul in World Cups.
Sri Lanka could only manage to scrape together a meagre total of 55 runs, succumbing to the formidable Indian bowling attack in just 19.4 overs. Kasun Rajitha emerged as the top scorer for Sri Lanka with a modest 14 off 17 balls. The lack of any fight and the relentless pressure from the Indian bowlers proved too much for the Sri Lankan batsmen.
The magnitude of India’s victory, a margin of 302 runs, speaks volumes about the team’s current form and the commanding performance of the players, both with the bat and ball. This win has undoubtedly fortified India’s position as the favourites. The few remaining question marks were also solved with Iyer and Siraj getting back in form. With the momentum firmly in their favour, it will be thrilling to see how far the Men in Blue can go in their pursuit of some much-deserved cricketing glory.
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