India rout Sri Lanka by 302 runs to seal World Cup semi-final spot

Mohammed Shami took five wickets as India's pacemen produced a devastating display to skittle out Sri Lanka for just 55 as the unbeaten tournament hosts secured a World Cup semi-final place with a colossal 302-run win in Mumbai on Thursday.

Sri Lanka's woeful innings featured five noughts, with both their openers falling for golden ducks as they slumped to 14-6 chasing 358.

Shami took 5-18 in five overs after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj struck with the new ball in an innings with a top score of just 14

Bumrah, with 1-8 in five overs, and Siraj (3-16 in seven) did the early damage before Shami took two wickets in two balls as Sri Lanka's rapid collapse continued.

India's winning-margin was their biggest, by runs, in a World Cup game surpassing their 257-run defeat of non-Test nation Bermuda during the 2007 edition in the Caribbean.

Sri Lanka's total did top the 50 all out they made in a 10-wicket Asia Cup defeat by India in Colombo in September.

They also avoided the embarrassment of setting a new record for the lowest total in any one-day international of 35 and the World Cup mark of 36, posted by Canada against Sri Lanka in Paarl, South Africa, in 2003.

These were meagre consolations to a Sri Lanka side suffering their fifth defeat in seven games at this World Cup.

Earlier, there was some disappointment for the home crowd when Virat Kohli missed out on equalling Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 49 one-day international hundreds.

He still made 88 in a total of 357-8 and shared a stand of 189 with opener Shubman Gill (92), following the second-ball exit of India captain Rohit Sharma.

The duo were out in quick succession but Shreyas Iyer kept the runs coming with a blistering 82 featuring six sixes.

Facing a daunting chase, the visitors would have wanted a solid start at the Wankhede Stadium -- where India beat Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final.

Instead Pathum Nissanka was lbw for nought to Bumrah's first ball of the innings and at the start of the next over Siraj had Dimuth Karunaratne, the other opening batsman, lbw for nought as well.

Sadeera Samarawickrama survived four balls before he too was out for a duck, edging Siraj to third slip Iyer.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis was then bowled for one by Siraj.

Shami ensured there was no respite, striking with his third ball when Charith Asalanka was caught at backward point.

Then 14-5 was transformed into 14-6 next ball when Dushan Hemantha edged to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.

Dushmantha Chameera survived the hat-trick ball but was quickly caught behind for nought off Shami, who then clean bowled veteran Angelo Mathews for 12

Sri Lanka were now 29-8 but Mahesh Theekshana and Kasun Rajitha briefly kept India at bay before Shami struck again, with tailender Kasun Rajitha caught in the slips for 14.

Jadeja ended the match by dismissing Dilsan Madushanka, who had led Sri Lanka's attack with 5-80.

After Rohit was bowled by Madushanka, having lost the toss, Sri Lanka missed two chances.

Gill was on eight when a diving Charith Aslanka dropped a difficult catch at backward point off Madushanka.

Next over, Kohli was reprieved on 10 when Dushmantha Chameera was unable to cling on to a return catch.

The second-wicket duo ran riot before Gill was caught behind off Madushanka, who also had Kohli taken at cover-point off a slower ball. (AFP)

Virat Kohli missed out on equalling Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 49 one-day international hundreds but still helped India to an imposing 357-8 against Sri Lanka as the unbeaten World Cup hosts put one foot in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Kohli made 88 while opener Shubman Gill hit 92 as India looked for a seventh win in seven games and a guaranteed spot in the last-four.

The pair were out in quick succession after they had shared a stand of 189 following the second-ball exit of India captain Rohit Sharma.

But Shreyas Iyer kept the runs coming at the Wankhede Stadium with a blistering 82 off just 56 balls including six superbly struck sixes.

He eventually holed out off Dilshan Madushanka, the left-arm quick finishing with 5-80, as he became the leading bowler at the World Cup with 18 wickets.

Rohit leg-glanced Madushanka's first ball of the match for four after India were sent into bat.

But Madushanka's second ball cut off the seam before crashing into Rohit's off stump.

Sri Lanka could have had India three wickets down early on but missed both Gill and Kohli.

Gill was on eight when a diving Charith Aslanka dropped a difficult catch at backward point following a slashing drive off Madushanka.

Next over, Kohli was reprieved on 10 when Dushmantha Chameera was unable to cling on to a return catch off a leading edge

Those misses proved costly, Kohli completing a run-a-ball fifty featuring eight boundaries.

Gill, keeping pace with Kohli, reached the landmark in 55 balls before hitting the first six of the match when he pulled Chameera over midwicket.

But the 24-year-old fell in sight of a hundred when caught behind by wicketkeeper and Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis trying to uppercut Madushanka.

A near capacity crowd, including Mumbai native and India great Tendulkar, was silenced when Kohli chipped a Madushanka cutter to cover-point.

It was a tame end to a 94-ball innings, including 11 fours.

The innings was in danger of faltering but Iyer blazed away, with one huge six off paceman Kasun Rajitha carrying over 100 metres. (AFP)

Brief scores: India 357-8 in 50 overs (S. Gill 92, V. Kohli 88, S. Iyer 82; D Madushanka 5-80) v Sri Lanka

Kohli falls in sight of Tendulkar ODI hundred record

Virat Kohli made 88 in a World Cup match against Sri Lanka on Thursday to leave him still one century shy of equalling fellow India great Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 49 one-day international hundreds.

Following a shaky start, which saw Kohli dropped on 10, the current India batting star looked increasingly assured as he completed a run-a-ball fifty on the retired Tendulkar's Wankhede Stadium home ground as his former team-mate looked on from the stands.

But 12 runs shy of equalling the ODI century record of Tendulkar, the 34-year-old Kohli was deceived by a Dilshan Madushanka cutter that he could only chip to cover-point, where Pathum Nissanka held a simple catch.

Sri Lanka will field first after captain Kusal Mendis won the toss ahead of their clash with India in Mumbai at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

Match 33: Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field against India
Kusal Mendis called it right and elected to field first. Dushan Hemantha came into the side in place of Dhananjaya de Silva. India skipper Rohit Sharma wasn't too displeased at being asked to bat first, believing that it was a good wicket apart from some early help for the pacers. He also stated that the ball might jag a bit in the evening. India played the same side that triumphed against England in Lucknow.

India are out to continue their unblemished start to the campaign and secure a seventh consecutive victory that would ensure their qualification for the knockout stage of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

The hosts could also reclaim the first spot in the standings from South Africa ahead of what looms as a top-of-the-table clash, though they first have to overcome a Sri Lanka outfit with plenty to play for.

India are aiming to continue their winning streak without Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder remains sidelined with an ankle injury, though they have barely skipped a beat since Mohammed Shami took his place.

Sri Lanka need to bounce back from a crushing loss to Afghanistan to revive their campaign, that is on the brink of collapsing with only two wins from six matches with only Bangladesh and New Zealand still to come.

The 1996 World Cup champions have had to replace skipper Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Kumara, and Matheesha Pathirana since arriving in India, while star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out before the journey began.

But the wounded Sri Lanka should not be discounted with Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pathum Nissanka, and stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis all in fine form with the bat, while Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha have made an impact with the ball. (ICC)

Playing XIs
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Sri Lanka squad: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c) (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka