MUMBAI: India became the first team to enter the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after crushing Sri Lanka by 302 runs in the group match held in Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing a huge target of 358 runs, Sri Lanka was bundled out for a mere 55 runs in 19.4 overs. Only three people in the Lankan batting line-up scored double-digit. Sri Lanka's top scorer was Kasun Rajitha, who scored 14 runs. Mohammad Shami claimed five wickets for eighteen runs, while Mohammad Siraj claimed three wickets for sixteen. Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.

After winning the toss and batting first, India scored 357 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs, thanks to the batting excellence of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. India's top scorer was Shubman Gill, who scored 92 runs. Kohli scored 88 runs and Shreyas Iyer scored 82 runs. Jadeja's contributions towards the tail end of the Indian innings also helped India to reach 357. Jadeja scored 35 runs off 24 balls. Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka scalped five wickets.

Bumrah started the carnage by taking a wicket off the first ball, trapping Pathum Nissanka lbw with one that moved back in to strike the back pad, handing the Sri Lankan opener a golden duck. Siraj followed suit, striking with his first delivery as he trapped Dimuth Karunaratne lbw for a golden ball duck. Siraj got his second wicket of the over when Sadeera Samarawickrama chased a wide one and nicked it to Shreyas Iyer at third slip. Sri Lanka were four down for three runs when skipper Kusal Mendis was castled by Siraj off the first delivery of his second over, as the ball straightened late to beat the edge and hit the top of the off-stump.

Coming into the attack, Mohammad Shami sent back Charith Asalanka (1) off the third ball of his opening over, as the batter slashed at a short and wide delivery to hand Ravindra Jadeja a catch at backward point. Shami made it two in two balls when Dushan Hemantha pushed at a good length ball outside off and behind to Rahul, becoming the third Sri Lankan batter to get a first-ball duck on Thursday. Shami claimed the third wicket of the day thanks to DRS when the ultra edge showed Dushmantha Chameera (0) had gloved a delivery going down leg-side to keeper KL Rahul, making it seven down for 22 runs.

It was clearly a brilliant bowling display by the Indian pacers who left the Sri Lankan batters clueless. The Sri Lankan batters too did not apply themselves, a couple of them chasing wide deliveries when they should have left them untouched. Sri Lanka were 29/8 when Angelo Mathews got out for 12 in the 14th over and in danger of failing to get even 50. They managed that thanks to a ninth-wicket partnership between Maheesh Theekshana (12 not out) and Kasun Rajitha (14).