Shami leads rout of Sri Lanka as India advance unbeaten into semi-finals
India scored 357 for 8 and then their fast bowlers routed Sri Lanka for 55 in 19.4 overs
India scored 357 for 8 and then their fast bowlers routed Sri Lanka for 55 in 19.4 overs
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya
On that note, it's all from us. India roll on with the big one against South Africa in their sights, while Sri Lanka have to pick themselves up quickly before their next game against Bangladesh. Deiva's match report is up as well so be sure to check that out, but for now, on behalf of him and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out!
Before we wrap up, some news from elsewhere India's shooters finished the Asian Shooting Championships with a creditable 22 medals and six Paris Olympics quota spots. However, how much can be read into these medals? We find out.
Rohit Sharma: "I'm very happy knowing we have qualified for the semifinals, this was the first goal. But how we approached the seven games has been quite clinical, and a lot of individuals have put in the efforts, put their hands up and stood up. It was a good challenge for us to bat and put runs on the board. That's the kind of template you want to have when you want to score that many runs. Credit to the batters for getting to that total and then the seamers obviously. Shreyas is a very strong lad, strong in his mind, and today he did what he is known for - take on the opposition and the bowlers. He's been working very hard on his game and today we saw what he's capable of. As for Siraj, he's a quality bowler and if he does that it's quite a big difference for us. So very happy with how the squad as performed, even Surya in the last game. To put in a performance like this back to back, against England and now, shows the quality of the seamers. Obviously when there's something for them in the conditions, they are quite lethal. [KL Rahul DRS reviews?] I have left it to the bowler and the keeper to make those calls, but yeah I have to find individuals I can trust to make those calls, some may go here and there, today was 50-50 but that happens some times. [South Africa] They're playing some good cricket, so are we, so it's going to be a good game."
Kusal Mendis: "I am very disappointed. They bowled really well with seam and swing, and unfortunately we couldn't play to our potential. [Feel bowling first was a mistake?] Uhhh, I can't say like that. The wicket looked a little slow that's why I wanted to bowl first. I think Madushanka bowled really well, but Shubhman's chance and Virat's chance weren't taken and then the game changed a bit. But everyone bowled well in the middle overs. They then bowled really well in the first six overs, I think we need to give credit to their fast bowling unit. [can you turn it around] We have two matches with Bangladesh and New Zealand, so we will come back stronger."
Time for the captains...
Manu: "@Muthu: You would find that Cricinfo's MVP rates Siraj higher than Shami. This is because Siraj's three wickets were top-order whereas when Shami took his first wicket SL were already in deep trouble. Cricinfo's MVP calculation is actually really cool, it takes the actual match context at the moment of the wickets into account and it's a truer measure of actual impact than just plain stats."
Bhaskar: "I'd have given the MoM to Siraj. His wickets were far more important than Shami's."
Muthu: "I don't understand the cricinfo MVP calculation. A man with 5 for 18 runs has 36 points (and way down the list) compared to the one who took 5 for 80 runs." --- Think as a broadcaster, when handing out such awards when so many players had such a good claim, think it makes sense to go for the guy with the best figures. But yeah, Bumrah and Siraj had killed the game before Shami entered the fray.
Saurabh : "This match, in-fact not a match , "Miss match"
Tac: "Madhushka, who's helping you translate Shami's interview" --- No one at the moment. But according to Sanjay Manjerekar, Shammi thanked his teammates, bowlers and fans for the support - though it felt like he said a lot more. Update: translation has been added.
Mohammed Shami is the Player of the Match: "I want to first thank Allah - all the hard work we are putting in, the rhythm we have found, it's because of that that you are getting to see this storm (on the cricket field), the incredible things our bowling unit is doing. The rhythm we are bowling with, I can't believe anyone will not enjoy it. So, yes, we are enjoying ourselves a lot and working together as a unit, and you are able to see the results of that. [On becoming India's highest WC wicket-taker] Yeah, I am trying (to do my best), as always, trying to pitch the ball in the right areas and trying to find the right rhythm, because in big tournaments, if you lose the rhythm it's very difficult to get it back. So right from the start, the attempt has been to focus on the right areas and right lengths, and it's working, so why not try to repeat it? Yeah, it's tough, but I will say it again: your rhythm has to be right and the areas you hit must be right. Especially with the white ball, if you hit the right areas, you get movement off the pitch. So that's what matters the most. Not rocket science. Just a matter of rhythm, good food, keep your mind uncluttered, and, most importantly, the love of the people. The support we get in India has a huge role. When you go out of India, you get so much support from Indians. So I will keep trying to make everyone happy."
8.34pm So for the second game running between these two sides India's seamers have torn through the Lankan batting lineup, who had no answer to the swing and seam exploits of Bumrah, Siraj and Shami. Shami would end up with the pick of the figures with 5 for 18 in five overs, but Bumrah and Siraj were equally devastating in an opening burst that left Sri Lanka's batting in tatters. Their top order would collectively score just two runs on the same wicket that India's batters had plundered 357 runs. That was an innings built on half centuries from Virat Kohli, Shubhman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, picking up his maiden five-for, but such was India's second innings dominance that will be but a mere footnote in yet another devastating display.
D Madushanka c Iyer b Jadeja 5 (4m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 83.33
Jadeja into the attack
Board issues statement a day after the team's 302-run defeat against India in Mumbai
Batting coach denies poor performance is part of wider decline in Sri Lanka cricket
There were a host of superpowers on show as India took on Sri Lanka in the World Cup
The hours of training, planning and research weren't enough for top-notch batters to cope with what the fast men dished out
"How we approached the seven games has been quite clinical - everybody put in the effort"