IND vs SL, ICC World Cup 2023: India decimate Sri Lanka to become first team to reach semifinals; stretch winning run to seven

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India became the first team to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinals after beating Sri Lanka by a massive 302 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday (October 2).

Mohammed Shami (5/18) and Mohammed Siraj (3/16) ran through the Sri Lanka batting line-up as the Islanders were bundled out for 55 in 19.4 overs while chasing 358. Kasun Rajitha top-scored for Sri Lanka with 14. Only two other Sri Lanka batters could reach double digits. Earlier, sent in to bat, India amassed 357 for 8.

Virat Kohli (88 off 94 balls), Shubman Gill (92 off 92) and Shreyas Iyer (82 off 56) led India's batting. Kohli missed out on a century once again after getting out on 95 against New Zealand. He earlier got out on 85 as well against Australia.

Kohli crucially added 189 runs for the second wicket with Gill, who was first to fall among the duo to Dilshan Madushanka. The pacer took the wicket of Kohli in the next over to the southpaw pacer, who climbed to the top of the highest wicket-taker this World Cup at 18. Madushanka eventually finished with a spell of 5/80.

Shreyas Iyer kept the scoreboard ticking with his second half-century in ICC World Cup 2023. The inning came amid criticism of not being consistent enough. Iyer missed out a ton too as he fell to Madushanka in the 48th over. Ravindra Jadeja's 35 off 24 balls then pushed India past 350.

Chasing the total, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka to the first ball of the innings to Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj then took over to reduce Sri Lanka to an alarming 3/4 by the fourth over.

The Lankans soon caved in at 55 all out as Mohammed Shami took his second fifer of the ICC World Cup 2023. The pacer, who also collected the Man of the Match award, has rapidly climbed the table to 14 wickets in three games.

Brief Scores India: 357 for 8 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 88, Shubman Gill 92, Shreyas Iyer 82; Dilshan Madhushanka 5/80). Sri Lanka: 55 all out in 19.4 overs (Kasun Rajitha 14; Mohammed Shami 5/18, Mohammed Siraj 3/16).