The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 has been an exhilarating tournament till now, delivering
full-on entertainment to fans worldwide. Indian pacer Mohammad Shami, who, as of late, has
become a vital asset for the Indian team, gave the world a bowling lesson in their game against
Sri Lanka. With Shami at its head, the bowling unit led India to a 302-run victory against Sri
Lanka at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
With a remarkable fifer, Shami surpassed the likes of Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath to reach
45 wickets in the tournament, becoming India's highest wicket-taker in the Cricket World Cup.
Shami dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup, taking crucial wickets and restricting them to a
paltry total of 55 runs. Shami's five-wicket haul included the dismissals of Charith Asalanka,
Dushan Hemantha, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, and Kasun Rajitha. His ability to
hit the seam hard and generate movement both ways was a nightmare for the Sri Lankan
batters.
Legendary pacer Wasim Akram showered praise on Shami, highlighting his ability to bowl
accurate lengths consistently and the experience he has gained from playing red and white-ball
cricket. Akram emphasized that Shami's ability to make the ball move inside and outside at a
good pace has been a critical factor in his success. He also commended Shami for becoming
the second-ever bowler in the history of ODI World Cups to achieve three five-wicket hauls.
Shami's brilliance extends beyond this match, as he has consistently performed throughout the
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. With 14 wickets from three games, he has become India's
strike bowler in the tournament.
The batting unit fired exceptionally well as big innings from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and
Shreyas Iyer fired India to a massive target of 358 runs. During the Lankan chase, Jasprit
Bumrah struck early, dismissing opener Pathum Nissanka on the first ball of the innings. Shami
and other Indian bowlers continued to apply relentless pressure, not allowing the Sri Lankan
batters to settle. Ultimately, Sri Lanka was bundled out for just 55 runs, handing India a
resounding victory with a massive margin of 302 runs.
India's victory against Sri Lanka should fill them with confidence as they look to add the third
star to their constellation of trophies. Having qualified for the semi-final, we may see India test
their bench strength in upcoming matches.
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