The Indian juggernaut continued taking audacious strides at the ICC World Cup 2023, as they defeated the defending champions by a significantly big margin of 100 runs on Sunday, 29 October, in Lucknow’s BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. After scoring 229 runs whilst batting first, India bowled the Three Lions out for a meek total of 129.
On what proved to be a two-paced track, India had a poor start with the bat, losing three wickets inside the first 12 overs – with the trio of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer combining to score 13 runs. Notably, Kohli recorded his maiden duck in the ODI World Cup.
A 91-run fourth-wicket stand between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul stabilised India’s innings, and after the latter was dismissed on 39, Rohit found a new partner in Suryakumar Yadav.
The T20I specialist justified his selection in the ODI side by playing a crucial knock of 49 runs, and proving to be a reliable figure once Rohit lost his wicket for 87. Moreover, Jasprit Bumrah played a cameo of 16 runs, propelling India’s score to 229.
Shami & Bumrah Bamboozle England
But Bumrah’s major contribution came in the fifth over of England’s innings, where he effectively plagued the batting order by dismissing Dawid Malan and Joe Root in successive deliveries.
Albeit, India’s pace spearhead did not work in isolation, with a terrific partner in Mohammed Shami matching, and eventually, bettering his numbers. The veteran dismissed Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in successive overs, which meant that the game was all but in India’s control by the tenth over of England’s innings.
Of the ten, the one particular wicket which deserves special mention is that of Jos Buttler in the first delivery of the 16th over. Kuldeep Yadav’s stunner spun a mile, or so it seemed, to completely outfox the English skipper.
England’s tail – albeit the team is packed with 11 batters – could not last long, with Liam Livingstone being the only exception who huffed and puffed, and threw a few punches, to score 27 runs.
Mohammed Shami returned into the attack to dismiss Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, subsequently completing his four-wicket haul, while Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Mark Wood to record a 100-run victory for his team.
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