IND VS SL MATCH 33

Right then, that's all from this game. India have become the first team to qualify for the semis of the 2023 ODI World Cup. As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, it has been a dismal campaign for them, and they now find themselves on the brink of elimination. The action in the 2023 ODI World Cup continues on Friday, November 3rd when the Netherlands take on Afghanistan in Lucknow. Both teams have punched above their weight, and it should be a cracker of a game. The first ball will be bowled at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT), but our build-up will begin much sooner. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Rohit Sharma, the victorious skipper of India says that he is very happy knowing that they have officially made it to the semis. Adds that this was the first aim and everyone chipped in with good performances in all seven games. Tells that they batted really well to put a 350+ score on the board which is a great total on any wicket. Says that Shreyas Iyer is a very strong lad mentally and he showed his qualities with the bat here and took the attack to the Lankan bowlers with those huge hits. Praises Mohammed Siraj as well and having a fast bowler like him who can do that is a great thing for a captain. Credits Suryakumar Yadav as well for stepping up in the last game and says that their pace unit is absolutely fantastic and they are exploiting the conditions well. Mentions that KL Rahul has been good behind the stumps and he needs someone who can help him with the reviews and he has stepped up for that. Ends by saying that they are up for the South Africa challenge next and both teams are playing good cricket and the people of Kolkata will enjoy that match.

Sri Lanka's captain, Kusal Mendis says he is really disappointed including himself as the batting unit couldn't score runs. He praises the opposition's bowling unit and credits their bowlers. Mentions that he is very happy with the performance of Dilshan Madushanka as he bowled really well in the first overs as well as the middle overs. Adds that Shubman Gill's chance and Virat Kohli's chance weren't taken and it could have gone either way. States that he is happy that they bowled pretty well in the middle overs. He still believes in the team as they have a slight margin to qualify for the knockouts and hopes that they will come back against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Mohammed Shami is the Player of the Match for his amazing five-wicket haul. He firstly thanks the almighty. He says that all the practice in the nets is paying off and they are enjoying bowling as a unit. Adds that all the bowlers are having fun and it becomes easy to bowl when the environment around you is so good. Tells that he just focuses on hitting the right lengths and staying in good rhythm as in a long tournament like this it is hard to find it back if you lose it. Says that it is all about recovering well, eating well and keeping your mind free and the results will follow. Ends by saying that that support has been fantastic not just here but outside India as well and he hopes that it goes on like this and he continues to perform for the fans.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, after being inserted into bat, India were dealt an early blow as they lost Rohit Sharma on the second delivery of the game. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli then got together and helped India recover from that shaky start with an 189-run stand. Having gotten life early on in their innings, both Gill and Kohli grew in confidence as the innings progressed and ran Sri Lanka ragged. Although they missed out on their respective hundreds, they had done their job of laying a solid foundation for the Indian innings. Shreyas Iyer then took over and dealt in sixes to ensure that the innings did not lose steam during his entertaining 82-run knock. It was Ravindra Jadeja who batted through and his unbeaten cameo helped India cross 350. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka was the only positive with a five-wicket haul and he became the 4th Sri Lankan bowler to pick five wickets or more in a World Cup game.

With 358 to chase for victory, Sri Lanka had to pull off something special, given that a 300-plus score had never been chased at the Wankhede Stadium. As the scoreboard suggests, there is nothing much to write home about for the Lankan batters. They were off to the worst possible start in their chase as Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne were dismissed for a golden duck. Just like the openers, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis looked all at sea against the Indian new ball attack. Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews showed resistance, but the relentless Indian pace attack kept coming at them, and they had to eventually throw in the towel. Thanks to contributions from Kasun Rajitha and Maheesh Theekshana, they were able to cross the 36-run mark, the lowest score in ODI World Cup history. However, the writing was already on the wall for them and in the end, they capitulated to an embarrassing loss in 19.4 overs.

As they have done throughout the World Cup, India put on an absolute clinic with the new ball yet again. Jasprit Bumrah set the tone for the hosts with a wicket from his very first delivery, and it certainly rubbed off on his new ball partner. Having not been that effective upfront in the past few games, Mohammed Siraj returned to his usual best and had the ball on a string to set the cat among the pigeons. Mohammed Shami wasted no time in getting into the act and made sure to pile more misery on the Sri Lankan batters. He ran through the opposition's lower middle order and bagged another five-wicket haul of this World Cup. Also, he is now India's leading wicket-taker in Cricket World Cup history, a testament to his legacy. Towards the end, Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack and he completed the formalities to wrap up a thumping victory for India.

As clinical as it can get! It was nothing short of a dream game for the Men in Blue in the 'City of Dreams'! A resounding victory by a margin of 302 runs for Rohit Sharma's men and by doing so, they have sealed their berth in the semis of the 2023 ODI World Cup. As for Sri Lanka, they have been absolutely annihilated by India in this encounter, and it was a performance they would like to forget as quickly as possible. At the halfway mark, they would have hoped to put up a fight with the bat, but it seems like the mental scars inflicted by India during the Asia Cup final have not healed yet.

OUT! TAKEN! Ravindra Jadeja finishes things off for India! He floats this one up, full and on off, turns away, Dilshan Madushanka goes down and looks to sweep it away but only manages to get a top edge as the ball flies in the air behind the the bowler where Shreyas Iyer from mid on runs to his left and takes a fine catch. Sri Lanka have been bowled out for just 55 runs here! INDIA WIN BY 302 RUNS!

A bit short and on off, Dilshan Madushanka moves back and defends well.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Dilshan Madushanka keeps it out to the off side.

FOUR! Dilshan Madushanka greets Ravindra Jadeja with a boundary! Jadeja lands this short and aronund of, Dilshan Madushanka moves back and punches it through covers for a boundary.

Ravindra Jadeja is introduced into the attack now.

Looped up, full and on off, Maheesh Theekshana drills it wide of cover-point where the fielder dives to his left to make a good stop.

Flighted, full and on off, Dilshan Madushanka drives it through cover-point for a run.  Sri Lanka have gone past their Asia Cup 2023 final total but things are still looking very bleak for them.

Quicker delivery, full and on off, angling in, Dilshan Madushanka prods forward to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.