Australia advanced to their eighth World Cup final after defeating South Africa by three wickets in difficult conditions at the Eden Gardens. The team led by Pat Cummins will now play the hosts, India, in the championship match on Sunday in Ahmedabad. However, for Temba Bavuma and company, it was another instance of being both close and far away in a semi-final—the fifth in which South Africa has failed to advance.

Temba Bavuma‘s team chose to bat and was taken to 212 by David Miller’s sixth ODI century, but it was always going to be difficult to defend a low score. Australia had a blistering start, scoring 60 runs beyond the target in the first six overs. As a result, their slowdown and collapse against spin in the middle overs was largely insignificant. In order to get Australia over the finish line, the experienced hands of captain Cummins and Mitchell Starc then gently nudged and nurtured 22 quiet runs.

Maybe the way the teams batted in the first PowerPlay made a difference between them. Australia took just two balls to score their first boundary, whereas South Africa needed 53 balls to do so. And it came from the bat of Player of the Match Travis Head, who amassed 62 off 48 in an innings that may have effectively ended the chase well in advance of its completion. That came from Head, who in just two balls claimed the vital wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen.

South Africa’s spinners provided their only glimmer of hope during the match. Aiden Markram, introduced into the bowling attack, dismissed David Warner with a hint of spin on the very first delivery he bowled. Keshav Maharaj, who was held back until the 15th over, also struck with his first ball, sending back the dangerous Travis Head.

After the dismissal of Travis Head, South Africa’s spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, bowled some quiet overs that ultimately led to the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne missed an ill-advised reverse-sweep against Shamsi and was hit in front. Shamsi then went on to add the wicket of Glenn Maxwell, leaving Australia at 137/5.

It was always a tough task for South Africa to bowl out Australia, but they were unlucky not to take more catches. Quinton de Kock dropped a couple of tough ones behind the stumps, and the most costly miss was the dropped catch of Head by Reeza Hendricks on 40. South Africa will rue this missed opportunity. Gerald Coetzee, the bowler on that occasion, would come back and pick up the wickets of Steve Smith and Josh Inglis, but South Africa’s total was always modest, hampered by their early collapse. However, they were able to score as many runs as they did, especially from 24 for 4, thanks to Miller’s extraordinary innings.

Batting under overcast skies was something even Pat Cummins admitted wanting to do, but it took only a few overs from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to hammer home the point that batting wasn’t going to be easy against the new ball.

Bavuma lasted all of five deliveries at the crease, edging behind a delivery from Starc on nought but it was Hazlewood at the other end who proved to be more of a menace.

Hazlewood’s first spell read 6-1-12-2, the two wickets being that of de Kock (caught at mid-on after a string of dot balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (edged to second slip). Starc wasn’t too far behind at the other end, bowling seven overs on the trot and picking 2 for 18 in his first spell. Markram was the other batter Starc accounted for with an edge to backward point. 

Miller and Heinrich Klaasen formed a crucial 95-run partnership, capitalizing on Adam Zampa’s inconsistent lengths during the rain-affected innings. They plundered six sixes off Zampa, with both batters contributing two each.

Just when South Africa appeared to regain their footing with a 44-run stand between overs 21 and 30, Travis Head introduced himself into the attack and struck gold with two wickets in two balls. His accurate spin bowling first deceived Klaasen with a length delivery, bowling him through the gate, and then dismissed Marco Jansen the next ball with an inswinging delivery that trapped him leg before. This highlighted the fickle and challenging conditions in Kolkata.

Miller and Gerald Coetzee forged another 53-run partnership for the seventh wicket, with Miller dominating the scoring. This stand could have extended further had Coetzee reviewed the decision for caught-behind; the on-field umpire adjudged him caught behind off a short ball, but replays showed the ball had deflected off his arm instead.

Miller reached his century off 115 balls, an impressive feat in a World Cup knockout match, but he would later regret not batting until the end of the innings. Two balls after reaching the milestone, Miller fell while attempting to pull a short ball from Pat Cummins, ending a valiant innings.

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In order to lead India to the competition final, Mohammed Shami became the first bowler to take three five-wicket hauls in a single 50-over World Cup, while Virat Kohli struck a record-breaking 50th ODI century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s total. Beyond Stuart Binny’s 6 for 4, Shami’s 7 for 57 is also the best-ever ODI stats for an Indian bowler. A determined Daryll Mitchell threatened to offer Wankhede another mind-numbing chase à la Glenn Maxwell for parts of the chase after India reached 397/4, but the 2019 finalists were ultimately defeated by 70 runs due to lack of support.

Around Kohli’s fireworks (117 off 113) was some amazing batting from everyone. In the first PowerPlay, Rohit Sharma misled Mitchell Santner and the New Zealand quicks with his enthusiastic style. His 47 off 22 set the squad up, but he lived and died by the sword. After that, Shubman Gill took over and scored immediately as Kohli became comfortable and attacked Lockie Ferguson’s shoddy lengths. Before the harsh Mumbai weather got the better of him and forced him to retire injured, he had reached a half-century and looked ready to make a century. But that brought Shreyas Iyer into the center, and he was lethal against Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, the part-timers from New Zealand.

India steadied well with 66 and 64 in the next two sets of ten overs after scoring 84 runs in the opening ten overs, but Iyer and Kohli managed to push it even farther with 73 in the following ten overs. With a score of 287/1 in 40 overs, India was primed for victory. After scoring the record century, Kohli displayed intense passion before getting out in the 44th over. But Iyer raced to a century from 67 balls. As India scored 110 runs in the final 10 overs to give the Kiwis a difficult task, KL Rahul also went for the kill at the very end.

Devon Conway got the chase underway with a four past point, and after Jasprit Bumrah made an unusually sluggish start, he added another in the opening over. Because Mohammed Siraj was also off early, Rohit Sharma decided to upset the chasing side early by bringing on Mohammed Shami in the sixth over. He circled the stumps to Conway, who is left-handed, and got him to follow and snag a ball that sailed past him. A superb diving catch was made by KL Rahul behind the wickets. Taking the wicket of Rachin Ravindra, who was also caught behind, in his subsequent over, Shami put New Zealand under even more pressure in an already difficult chase.

New Zealand’s progress was boosted by Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who added 41 runs in the five overs after the PowerPlay. India missed a run out opportunity when Rahul took the bails off with his glove, but Mitchell and Williamson negotiated well against India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, keeping the scoring rate at slightly above six an over. Mitchell and Williamson both reached half-centuries, with Mitchell taking on Jadeja with two sixes to help New Zealand reach 180 for 2 in 28 overs. The equation was still challenging, and Rohit brought back Bumrah to try and break the partnership and derail the chase. Mitchell miscued a slower ball from Bumrah, but he managed to send it to the boundary. In the same over, Mohammed Shami dropped a simple catch offered to him by Williamson at mid-on.

The crowd at Wankhede Stadium fell silent as Daryl Mitchell played one of the best shots of the match, a thunderous uppish drive that sent a Jasprit Bumrah delivery over mid-off for a six on the first ball of the 31st over. With the asking rate now hovering around ten an over, the tension was palpable. Williamson played a classic punch through cover in the same over, leaving India’s captain Rohit Sharma with a lot to think about heading into the final stages of the chase.

In the 33rd over, Mitchell became only the second batsman after Sourav Ganguly to score two centuries against an opposition in the same World Cup edition. However, in that same over, Shami made amends for his earlier dropped catch by having Williamson caught at deep square leg and then trapping Tom Latham leg before two balls later, effectively extinguishing New Zealand’s hopes.

India continued to tighten the noose with two more tight overs from Ravindra Jadeja and Shami, further increasing the asking rate. Mitchell, however, refused to give up. He hit Shami for a huge six in the 39th over and then displayed exceptional skill against Mohammed Siraj’s wide yorkers from around the stumps. He then played a scoop for a six over fine leg, bringing New Zealand’s score to 266/4 in 40 overs. The target remained a daunting 132 off the last 60 balls, but the conditions and Mitchell’s unwavering determination meant the match was set up for a thrilling climax.

Glenn Phillips joined the party by taking 20 runs off the 41st over from Mohammed Siraj. The match continued to ebb and flow, with Kuldeep Yadav bowling an exceptional over in which he nearly dismissed Mitchell and conceded just two runs. However, Jasprit Bumrah returned and struck another blow with a slower one that Phillips miscued in an attempt to hit another six. Ravindra Jadeja took a sharp catch at long off, leaving Mitchell with a lot of work to do in the company of the lower order.

Mark Chapman walked out and was out in a jiffy in another exceptional over at the death from Kuldeep, which yielded New Zealand just four runs and a wicket.

Shami then returned to sound the death knell for New Zealand as he had Mitchell caught in the deep to complete his five-wicket haul. With this, Shami became the first bowler to pick up his third five-wicket haul in a single edition of the World Cup. He added two more to his record tally, surpassing Ashish Nehra’s 6 for 23 against England in the 2003 World Cup and earning the best-ever bowling figures in a World Cup knockout fixture.

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In the most recent ICC Men’s Batting Rankings, India’s youthful batting sensation Shubman Gill has overtaken Pakistan’s strong skipper Babar Azam to take the top spot as the world’s best ODI hitter after a string of outstanding performances. This incredible achievement solidifies Gill’s place among the top cricketers in India and is a turning point in his developing career.

Gill’s outstanding performances at the current ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup have propelled his quick ascent to the top. He has demonstrated his skill in previous games, scoring a resounding 92 against Sri Lanka and a resilient 23 against South Africa. During the competition, he scored 219 runs from six innings. In addition to propelling India’s World Cup campaign, his continuous excellence has cemented his status as one of the world’s greatest young batsmen.

After more than two years at the top, Babar Azam’s dominance as the world’s best ODI hitter has come to an end. After amassing 282 runs from eight knockouts during the World Cup, the captain of Pakistan has fallen six rating points behind Shubman Gill of India into second position.

Gill’s ascent to the top is evidence of his extraordinary talent and reliable performances. During the World Cup, the right-hander has scored 219 runs from six innings, including a fierce 92 against Sri Lanka and a tough 23 against South Africa.

Virat Kohli, the former captain of India, has also risen significantly in the most recent ODI batting rankings, jumping up to fourth place. During the World Cup, Kohli has been in outstanding form, amassing 246 runs in five innings, including a century against Australia.

Shubman Gill is now the highest-ranked ODI hitter in the world, overthrowing Babar Azam’s position. In addition to Virat Kohli’s noteworthy ascent to fourth position, Gill’s outstanding World Cup performance has further solidified India’s supremacy in the ODI rankings. Furthermore, Mohammed Siraj, India’s fast bowler, has taken back the top rank among bowlers in the One-Day International format, confirming India’s overall dominance in the limited-overs game.

Since the World Cup ended, the ICC ODI rankings have experienced a dramatic shift, with India’s batting and bowling excellence leaving a lasting impression. Rising Indian cricket prodigy Shubman Gill has overtaken Babar Azam to take the top spot among ODI batsmen, while veteran Virat Kohli has surged to fourth place, closing in on South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, who is now in third place.

In the ODI batting rankings, Shreyas Iyer has made a remarkable comeback, moving up 17 spots to rank 18th. Fakhar Zaman, the opener for Pakistan, and Ibrahim Zadran, his counterpart from Afghanistan, have both advanced significantly, moving up 3 and 6 spots to rank 11th and 12th, respectively.

Since the World Cup began, the ICC ODI bowler rankings have drastically changed. Four Indian players are currently ranked in the top 10, which is a credit to their incredible 50-over tournament run of flawless play.

Siraj has recaptured his position as the best ODI bowler in the world, and his colleagues Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav have all improved to the point where they are safely ranked in the top 10.

Siraj’s ascent to the top has been aided by his outstanding World Cup exploits, where he has often misled opposing hitters with his precise pace bowling.

Yadav has risen three slots to fourth place, having found his form again in recent months. Bumrah and Shami have also made significant improvements, rising three and seven spaces to eighth and tenth place, respectively.

The Indian team’s bowling ability has been a major contributor to their undefeated World Cup debut, as seen by their collective rise to the top of the ODI bowler rankings.

Keshav Maharaj, a spinner from South Africa, has risen two slots to second place, while Adam Zampa, an Australian, has advanced six ranks to third. Shaheen Afridi, who was rated first in the ODI rankings last week, has fallen four spots to share fifth position with fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood.

Maharaj’s ascent to second position is a testament to his regular efforts, which have been great in recent months.

Zampa has also been bowling effectively, and he deserves credit for his six-place surge to third place.

Afridi’s fall to fifth position is not a reflection on his abilities; rather, it is evidence of the excellent caliber of bowling in the current ODI cricket competition.

Hazlewood’s ranking in the top five is not surprising, since he has demonstrated his ability to compete at the greatest level.

The players in the top 10 of the ODI bowler rankings are all capable of playing at the very best level, making it an extremely competitive place to be.

The ODI bowling rankings have been shaken up, which reflects the dynamic character of the game and will undoubtedly keep spectators engaged in the upcoming months and years.

Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who took the most wickets during the World Cup, shot up 31 spots to 45th place in the ODI bowler rankings. Other notable risers include Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who moved up eight spots to 19th place, and left-armer Marco Jansen, of South Africa, who moved up nine spots to joint 24th place.

The game’s dynamic character is reflected in the rearranged standings, which will keep fans interested for months and years to come.

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Maxwell Gets the Highest ODI Score While Chasing Physical Limits and Beliefs

Glenn Maxwell broke over physical and mental barriers to record the best ODI total while chasing in the center of Mumbai, the spiritual home of Indian cricket. His unbreakable commitment was demonstrated by his amazing 202-run partnership for the ninth wicket, to which Pat Cummins scored just 12 off 68 balls. Beyond the outstanding performances, Maxwell’s show was a theatrical spectacle that captured the audience with his persistent desire for victory.

Maxwell’s innings were a masterpiece in pure resolve and unconventional batting methods. He walked and stumbled around the crease, not allowing his physical limitations to stop him from moving forward. His powerful but accurate strokes left the spectators spellbound and the bowlers confused.

The crowd’s excitement increased as Maxwell’s inning went on. Despite their best attempts, the Afghan bowlers could not stop his assault. The crowd’s shouts resounded throughout the night as they yelled and celebrated at every turn.

Maxwell was getting closer to history with every ball that went by. He was close to breaking the record for the greatest ODI score while chasing. And he succeeded with one last flourish, making his mark in cricket history.

Maxwell’s inning was an incredible demonstration of his athleticism, talent, and determination. He produced a performance that will be remembered for years to come, defying the expectations and the odds.

With the chase down to 55 runs to win, Maxwell boldly poked a single to the long-on boundary in the 41st over. But then, all of a sudden, he slumped to the ground and writhed in anguish. After braving the muggy conditions of the famous stadium for five hours, he suddenly collapsed dramatically. The team physio ran onto the field, a typical scene in this high-stakes game; the umpire’s look reflected his anxiety. Adam Zampa, the No. 10 batter for Australia, had already made his way down the changing room steps and was ready to take his time at the crease.

However, Maxwell chose to persevere in spite of everything. He hit five huge sixes and five well-placed fours with resolute resolve. Amazingly, he used just his perfect hand-eye coordination to accomplish this incredible feat—not even moving his feet. Maxwell’s incredible performance defied logic and helped Australia defeat an amazed Afghanistan to win an incredible match.

Just 1.5 hours before Maxwell added his tenth four to his remarkable career total of 21 fours, hitting the skies over Mumbai, Hashmatullah Shahidi and his team had every reason to think they were going to win this tournament and become the next greatest of all time champions. The five-time winners were so scared by their performance that even Mitchell Starc, who did not even make touch with the ball, walked off the field without realizing that it had only brushed his stumps en route to the wicketkeeper.

In the glow of the stadium lights, Azmatullah Omarzai and Naveen ul Haq had taken two vital wickets apiece by skillfully using the swing. Following Omarzai’s successive wickets of Josh Inglis and David Warner, Maxwell came out swinging to deny the hat-trick chance. But Marnus Labuschagne self-inflicted a run-out, compounding Australia’s problems. Then came the intervention of the great player, Rashid Khan, who took wickets of Starc and Stoinis. Afghanistan was a force on the field, full of energy and desire, while Australia was on the verge of collapse.

The crucial blow came in the 22nd over, expertly delivered by leg spinner Noor Ahmad on the left arm. Maxwell played down the wrong line on the second ball, which led to a strong LBW plea that convinced the umpire. When the ball seemed to be sailing over the stumps due to the DRS system, Maxwell, who had previously accepted his destiny, was making his way towards the dressing room. After three good deliveries, he tried a sweep but could not control the bounce, resulting in a simple catch that went to the short fine-leg area. Surprisingly, Mujeeb Ur Rahman mysteriously declined the opportunity, saving Maxwell at 33 runs.

Something within Maxwell appeared to fire after these two incredible escapes. With renewed ferocity, he let loose with his arsenal of shots. In the next over, Rashid delivered a strong half-arm jab that almost reached the boundary, and he also produced a terrific slog-sweep off Noor’s ball that raced to the mid-wicket fence. Even after Maxwell achieved a 51-ball half-century, Afghanistan, who had been leading by a significant margin up until that point, was unable to fully capitalize on the change in momentum. Surprisingly, he reached his next fifty runs in just twenty-five balls, which unsettled the Afghanistan dugout as they saw the tide swing in Australia’s favor.

Shahidi was so confident in his team’s ability to spin bowl that he kept his two seamers out of the attack for a considerable amount of time. The mood of the match had changed considerably by the time Naveen returned to the bowling crease, and Australia needed to win by less than 100 runs. When the partnership reached 100 runs, Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, could only muster 8 runs; when it hit 150, he could barely muster 11 runs. Maxwell chose to hit boundaries instead of taking singles during this time since a bout of cramping had made it extremely difficult for him to walk.

But Cummins was happy enough to play out maiden overs, knowing full well that Maxwell’s big hitting was keeping the needed run rate in check. Afghanistan was unable to oppose this two-pronged approach. It appeared as though Mujeeb was crucial over clinched fate. After hitting dot, six, six, four, and six, Maxwell produced one of the most amazing innings in the history of the World Cup of cricket when he became the first Australian to reach an ODI double century.

It was a depressing end to a day that had so much potential for Afghanistan. After winning the toss, they had decided to put Australia under pressure on the scoreboard, a venue that is infamous for being tough to defend. Ibrahim Zadran was crucial, partnering with Rahmat Shah and Shahidi for half-centuries before becoming the first batter from Afghanistan to score a century in a World Cup game. Zadran carried his bat during his outstanding innings, scoring 129 runs off of 143 deliveries. Rashid Khan enhanced the show with an amazing eighteen-ball knock that brought in 35 runs. Combined, they scored 75 runs in the final six overs. Afghanistan achieved their highest-ever total in the history of the ODI World Cup thanks to this performance. However, ultimately, these outstanding successes were overshadowed by the night’s events.

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Ready to take his position, Mathews ran into an unexpected barrier in the shape of a troublesome helmet strap, which delayed him from getting to the crease in time and caused him to arrive after the allotted two minutes. 

Shakib al-Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh, took advantage of Mathew’s resistance to be dismissed by claiming an ICC World Cup regulation that requires a replacement batsman to be prepared to face the bowler within two minutes after the previous dismissal. Because they had to follow the rules, the umpires upheld the appeal, therefore Mathews was out before he was even put through a delivery. 

Mathews had the dubious distinction of becoming the first player to be “timed out” in the history of international cricket as a result of this odd dismissal, which launched him into cricketing legend. Even if the bowlers might not have claimed his wicket, Mathews’s outing is evidence of how important it is to follow the game’s regulations.

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The highly anticipated clash between the tournament’s top two teams, both boasting impressive records, turned into a one-sided affair. India amassed a formidable 326/5, with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 101 equaling Sachin Tendulkar‘s ODI world record of 49 centuries. South Africa’s response, however, was nothing short of disastrous. Ravindra Jadeja’s sensational 5/33 bowling performance dismantled the Proteas innings, reducing them to a mere 83 all out in 27.1 overs, their heaviest-ever defeat by runs in the format. India’s powerplay score of 91 alone surpassed South Africa’s entire innings total. This resounding victory left everyone wondering how things had gone so horribly wrong for the Proteas.

“An excellent question, and a significant understatement,” Walter acknowledged. “Today, we were simply outplayed. While they raced off to a quick start, we managed to recover somewhat. However, their total was too much to chase on this pitch. And then, from a bowling perspective, they applied pressure from the outset, leaving us with no opportunity to regain control.”

South Africa’s batting lineup, boasting a combined eight centuries in the tournament’s first seven games, faltered against India’s bowling attack. Renowned for their big-hitting prowess, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen contributed a mere 28 runs collectively, with Klaasen’s 13 being the highest score among them.

Marco Jansen, the tournament’s leading new-ball bowler with 18 powerplay wickets, struggled to find his rhythm against India’s openers. His first four overs conceded 43 runs, setting the tone for a disappointing spell that ended with career-worst figures of 1/94 at an economy rate of 9.72.

Walter expressed confidence that Jansen’s confidence wouldn’t be shaken by this setback: “Isn’t it a privilege to perform in front of thousands in a match like today, with so many opportunities to learn? He had a rough day, but he has the talent to bounce back and be effective next time. He now understands what it’s like to compete in a pressure cooker with so many people cheering against you. That experience is irreplaceable. You can’t find it anywhere else.”

While both teams had already secured their places in the semifinals before Sunday’s match, the prospect of facing India again in the knockout stages didn’t escape Walter’s mind.

“You have to believe that if you execute your skills well on the day, you have a chance. Today, we didn’t do that from the start.

“However, every day brings new lessons and surprises. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if we turned the tables the next time we meet. The beauty of it is that we may have another chance.”

South Africa’s supporters will take solace in the fact that their team didn’t defeat themselves; instead, they succumbed to a superior opponent. Walter echoed this sentiment: “The scoreboard speaks for itself. India was far superior, there’s no disputing that.

“Just as we’ve been far superior to other teams that, on paper, seemed evenly matched or even inferior to us.

“In international cricket, once you gain the upper hand, anyone can beat anyone. Today, the Indian team took control, and we were unable to regain momentum.”

Despite the heavy defeat, the South Africans didn’t take it lightly: “If you enter the dressing room now, you’ll find a group of guys deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to honor what was an incredible occasion and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our talents. We’ve played so well throughout this World Cup, and we would have wanted nothing more than for this to be a great contest.”

Walter’s team will need to regroup quickly for a potentially challenging final league match against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad on Friday. “Our focus for the next four days remains the same: utilizing the available time to prepare for the next fixture, and then it’s onto the semi-final. Nothing changes.

“The guys have put in a lot of hard work, and we’ve invested a great deal of time in our preparation. Now, it’s about recovering mentally and physically and being ready to compete the way we have throughout the tournament.”

But not, as he didn’t have to say, the way they failed to do on Sunday.

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The Sri Lankan players in the dressing room were unaware of the situation of the guards outside the stadium. The guards’ workday had been cut in half, and they had all the time in the world to contemplate the devastation they had suffered at the hands of the Indian bowlers.

Before they could even react, the combined power of India’s pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami had orchestrated a complete demolition of their batting order, by an incredibly wide margin of 302 runs.

The Sri Lankan team needed time to regroup and process their devastating defeat, which exposed the harsh reality that the Asia Cup final meltdown was not a one-off collapse. They had no answer to the marauding Indian pacers, and their surrender on Thursday was meek and pathetic. Their batting could not even last 20 overs, highlighting the desperate need for improvement.

For the Sri Lankan batsmen, it must have felt like a Zugzwang situation—every move they made led them into a deadly trap. If they somehow survived the swing, seam, and bounce of Bumrah, they had to face the relentless Siraj, who chased them down like a bull after a red rag. And if they overcame Siraj, there was the sheer power and accuracy of Shami, waiting to pounce on them like a lion in the African jungle.

It was like an escape from one predator, only to be confronted by another—like running from a frying pan, only to fall into the fire. If Bumrah missed, Siraj wouldn’t; if Siraj missed, Shami wouldn’t. All three bowlers were relentless, consistently bowling over 140 kph and rattling the Lankan batsmen, who had five ducks, three single-digit scores, and three double-digit runs. As Lanka’s batting coach Naveed Nawaz would later confess, none of their team members were able to step back and effectively manage the situation.

The demolition of the Sri Lankan batting lineup began with the very first ball of the innings, when Bumrah trapped Pathum Nissanka in front of the stumps for a golden duck. The opener, rooted to the spot by the incoming delivery, could only watch as the ball swung away and clipped his nails. It was a major blow for a side chasing a formidable target of 358.

Siraj, following Bumrah’s lead, struck with his very first ball, trapping Dimuth Karunaratne plumb in front with a bullet of a delivery. Another golden duck! He needed only four more deliveries to induce an edge from Sadeera Samarawickrama, securing two wickets in his very first over.

Siraj claimed his third scalp in the form of skipper Kusal Mendis, who was cleaned up by a lightning bolt of a delivery. By that stage, Sri Lanka had lost more wickets than they had managed to score runs—2/3.

Shami too joined the demolition party, striking in his first over, the ninth of the innings, to have Charith Asalanka caught at point by Ravindra Jadeja. He made it two in two by having Dushan Hemantha caught behind. By then, Sri Lanka were reeling at 14 for six and were in danger of being bowled out for less than 20 runs. They managed to surpass 50 runs, but not before Shami had claimed his five-for and completed their capitulation in 19.4 overs.

The Indian bowling possessed power, precision, penetration, punch, and panache. It was reminiscent of the great pace combinations of the past, such as Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, and Michael Holding, or Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, and Brett Lee, who would terrorize batsmen. The Sri Lankans were clearly left scarred by the experience in the middle, blown away by the sheer power and pace of the Indian bowling attack.

Though all three Indian bowlers were right-armers, they were diametrically opposed, like ice and fire, or water and oil. One relied on movement, another on raw pace, and the third on precision. The combined effect was devastating, with each delivery a thunderbolt.

“All three maintained unwavering accuracy in their line, making them extremely difficult to handle,” noted Dilshan Madushanka, who himself had a five-wicket haul in the match.

Shreyas Iyer described watching the Indian bowling attack as a surreal experience. “It’s hard to say, because I was sitting out in the Asia Cup final, but from the outside, it looked different. Now, playing on the field, I felt that today’s performance was surreal, especially of the bowlers, and the way they stood up to the occasion. Once we got those two-three wickets, we just capitalized on that. And as a bowling and fielding unit, we supported our bowlers by taking a few catches here and there,” Iyer said.

Naveed Nawaz called the Indian bowling attack one of the best in the country in recent times, capable of performing in the beginning, middle, and death overs. “We faced them in the Asia Cup final and today, and I’ve seen Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami bowl. They’re very skillful. They always get the batsman to play the ball, and they always bowl at the stumps. They can all swing the ball both ways, and we’ve seen their skills in the death overs, middle overs, and beginning overs. So, I guess it may be one of the best bowling attacks for India in recent times,” Nawaz explained.

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Tendulkar Recalls Early Memories of Wankhede Stadium

Thanking the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for their kind gesture, Sachin Tendulkar fondly recalled his first visit to the Wankhede Stadium at the age of 10. He also cherished the proud moment when Sunil Gavaskar introduced him to the Indian team in the dressing room during the 1987 World Cup.

Tendulkar Honored by MCA with Stand and Statue

Tendulkar‘s journey to representing Mumbai and eventually India began at the Wankhede Stadium. In honor of his remarkable contributions, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) dedicated a stand and a statue to immortalize his legacy.

“I am truly humbled,” Tendulkar said. “When I go to the ground, many memories come to my mind. It is a tribute to me by the MCA.”

Tendulkar Reminisces About Sneaking into Wankhede Stadium

“I was just 10 years old when I first visited the Wankhede Stadium in 1983,” Tendulkar recalled. “The West Indies had come to India after the World Cup and the excitement was palpable. My brother’s friends from Bandra, all in their 30s and 40s, had decided to watch the match and invited me to tag along. I went with them and enjoyed the game from the North Stand. On our way back, I heard someone say, ‘Achha manage diya, na?’ (We managed it well, no?). It was then that I realized that we had only 24 tickets for 25 people, and they had snuck me in. After that, I also got a chance to play at the Wankhede Stadium…”

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Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka struck early to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, but Afghanistan remained ahead of the run rate throughout their chase of 242. Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran got going with boundaries, and Zadran even flicked Kasun Rajitha for a six. Angelo Matthews, who had starred with the ball in Sri Lanka’s previous game, conceded two boundaries in his first over as Afghanistan reached 50 runs in the powerplay.

Madushanka returned to break the promising partnership between Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran, slowing Afghanistan’s run rate. Afghanistan didn’t panic, however, as Rahmat plodded towards another half-century. On 62, Rahmat was given a lifeline by Sadeera Samarawickrama, but he failed to read a slower delivery and miscued it, giving Sri Lanka an opening. Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on the opportunity, however, as Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi made merry.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi kept the scoreboard ticking with singles before Omarzai unleashed a six over deep midwicket off Maheesh Theekshana. That was the release shot he needed, and he followed it up with another six using the ramp shot in the very next over. Afghanistan were now in control of the chase, and by the end of the 40th over, they had 201 runs on the board. Sensing an opportunity for a big win, Shahidi and Omarzai switched gears and began plundering boundaries. They both brought up their half-centuries in style, and Afghanistan eventually reached the target with 28 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on the batting-friendly surface earlier in the day, losing control of their innings after the halfway point to finish with just 241. The decision to bring back Dimuth Karunaratne backfired, as Fazalhaq Farooqi, returning to the team, dismissed him early. Pathum Nissanka then took charge, hitting boundaries off four consecutive overs to finally get Sri Lanka going. Kusal Mendis also joined the party after a slow start.

Nissanka pulled ahead by one to go for 46, but Sri Lanka’s run pace didn’t improve. Around the middle point, Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama stabilized the innings, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position. At that point, Mujeeb took charge and ended the game by taking out both of the set hitters in back-to-back overs. Rashid Khan sent an awkward-looking Dhananjaya de Silva back with a googly.

Angelo Matthews had to save the innings now, but the veteran lost more wickets on the opposite end. Theekshana grabbed control of the scoring and Matthews made some important runs towards the end, but Farooqi returned to finish with a four-fer and restrict their opponents to a score below par.

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Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah set the tone with a devastating opening spell, reducing England to 40 for 4 inside 10 overs. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja then spun their webs, picking up three wickets apiece, as England crumbled for just 129 all out, their lowest total in World Cup history against India.

The victory was a testament to India’s incredible bowling depth and their ability to perform under pressure. It also put them on the brink of a semifinal spot, with just two more group games to play.

Bumrah and Shami rip through England top order under lights

Bumrah and Shami bowled a terrific spell of fast bowling under lights to leave England tottering at 39 for 4 in the 10th over of the chase.

Bumrah started the damage by taking out Dawid Malan in the fifth over with a clever change of angle. Malan was tentative on the occasion and played one on to the stumps.

Joe Root got a ripper first up from over the stumps from Shami – a ball that tailed in, kept low and hit him plumb in front of the stumps. Root reviewed it but took it back with him.

The ball was skidding on but still kept low occasionally, which made batting tough even as dew made its presence felt. Bumrah and Shami exploited the conditions perfectly, bowling with great accuracy and pace to leave England in a deep hole.

Shami’s devastating spell leaves England reeling

Mohammed Shami replaced a struggling Mohammed Siraj and immediately turned the tide of the match, bowling with devastating pace and accuracy. He kept Ben Stokes glued to the crease, cramping him for run-scoring for nine dot balls before the England batter tried to swing his way out of trouble and missed the angled-in delivery to get bowled.

In his next over, a scratchy Jonny Bairstow inside-edged a ball onto his stumps to leave England in deep trouble. Shami’s brilliance and England’s fragility were laid bare in the space of two overs, as the hosts were reduced to 39 for 4.

Buttler bamboozled by Kuldeep’s magic ball

Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali tried to resurrect England’s chase, but Kuldeep Yadav had other ideas. In his first over, Kuldeep got 2.6 degrees of turn on the ball, but it was in his next over that he produced a piece of magic.

He bowled a delivery that spun a whopping 7.2 degrees, leaving Buttler completely bamboozled. Buttler went on the back foot to play a drive through cover, but the ball turned sharply back in and crashed onto the stumps.

Buttler was left stunned, and England’s innings was in tatters. Kuldeep’s brilliance had turned the match on its head, and India were on their way to a comprehensive victory.

Shami and Bumrah wrap up England’s woeful batting collapse

Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone attempted to move the chase along, but Rohit Sharma’s ruthless decision-making once again stopped them in their tracks. Sensing the comfort that the two batters found in playing against Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian captain brought back Mohammed Shami in the 24th over.

Shami struck immediately, as Moeen hung his bat outside the off-stump and nicked a ball behind. In the space of six overs, England went from 81 for 6 to 98 for 8, as Jadeja also picked up a wicket.

Fittingy, Shami and Bumrah returned to wrap up England’s woeful batting collapse, as they were bundled out for 129 in the 35th over.

Rohit sets the platform for India’s victory on tricky Lucknow pitch

Despite losing early wickets, Rohit Sharma laid the foundation for India’s victory on a tricky, unpredictable Lucknow pitch. On a surface where oddballs nipped in and the bounce was inconsistent, Rohit played at a fairly brisk pace, getting to his half-century off 66 balls.

KL Rahul joined Rohit in the middle for the first time in an ODI since 2020, and the two ground out a revival for the former team of the tournament. Even in tough conditions, they played with patience and discipline, building a partnership that yielded 131 runs.

Rohit’s knock was especially impressive, as he showed great judgment and adaptability. He played with caution when needed, but also accelerated the scoring when the opportunity arose. His innings was a testament to his class and experience, and it laid the foundation for India’s eventual victory.

Livingstone’s sharp turn goes unused as India reach 229/9

Liam Livingstone got a sharp turn but the Indian pair saw him off for an over and then used him as a release avenue, scoring multiple boundaries off him. KL Rahul fell to Willey against the run of play for 39, and Jos Buttler brought back Adil Rashid to end Rohit’s stay for 87 off 101 balls, leaving India in a better position.

Suryakumar Yadav then earned his ODI stripes with a solid 47-ball 49, helping the team go past the 200-run mark. Before rattling England with the ball, Jasprit Bumrah threw his bat around for a bit and frustrated England by adding 20 runs for the ninth wicket with Kuldeep Yadav, leading India to 229/9 in 50 overs, 100 more than what they needed to bundle England out.

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