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

Mohamed 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 Mohamed 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 12Sri 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.‘Not rocket science’Shami insisted "it’s not rocket science” as he became his country’s most successful World Cup bowler on Thursday. Shami took 5-18 to move to 45 wickets at World Cups, going past the mark of 44 set by Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan."Not rocket science,” said Shami, who now has 14 wickets in just three games at this World Cup, when asked for the secret of his success."It’s 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.”Shami claimed 5-54 in the win over New Zealand and 4-22 in the victory against defending champions England but preferred to share the spotlight with Bumrah and Siraj. "We put in the hard work, we have found the rhythm and it’s because of that that you are getting to see this storm on the field,” he said."I can’t believe anyone will not enjoy it. We are enjoying ourselves a lot and working together as a unit, and you are able to see the results of that.”SCOREBOARDLowest World Cup totals(total, team, opponents, venue, year):36 Canada v Sri Lanka, Paarl 200245 Canada v England, Old Trafford 197945 Namibia v Australia, Potchefstroom 200355 Sri Lanka v India, Mumbai 202358 Bangladesh v West Indies, Mirpur 201168 Scotland v West Indies, Leicester 199969 Kenya v New Zealand, Chennai 201174 Pakistan v England, Adelaide 199277 Ireland v Sri Lanka, St George’s 200778 Bangladesh v South Africa, Mirpur 201178 Bermuda v Sri Lanka, Port-of-Spain 2007