India’s bowlers outshone England, securing a resounding 100-run victory and maintaining the host nation’s flawless record at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
In a game where the ball dominated, England managed to restrict India to a modest total of 229/9 within their allotted 50 overs, keeping the match evenly poised at the halfway mark.
However, India’s inspired pace attack, led by Mohammed Shami, who claimed an impressive 4/22, and Jasprit Bumrah with 3/32, dismantled England’s out-of-form batting lineup, ensuring a convincing win.
Looking back, Rohit Sharma’s exceptional knock of 87 proved to be the pivotal batting performance of the day. He held India’s innings together as wickets tumbled around him, coming tantalizingly close to a century before being expertly caught in the deep by Liam Livingstone off Adil Rashid’s delivery.
Contributions from KL Rahul (39), Suryakumar Yadav (49), and Jasprit Bumrah (16) propelled the tournament hosts to a total that gave their bowlers a target to defend.
Chasing a target of 230, England had the advantage of dew on the outfield to mitigate the impact of India’s spinners. Nevertheless, after the first wicket fell, England’s batting lineup crumbled, losing all ten wickets for a meager 99 runs, a disappointing performance that places them at the bottom of the standings.
India’s sixth consecutive victory catapults them to the top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed South Africa.
India, batting first and unchanged from their previous lineup, got off to a strong start courtesy of Rohit Sharma’s aggressive charge. He struck two sixes and a four, amassing 18 runs from David Willey’s second over.
However, England quickly struck back as Chris Woakes made one nip back in to breach Shubman Gill’s defenses in the fourth over. The breakthrough continued as Virat Kohli attempted a big shot early in his innings but failed to time the ball, offering a catch to Ben Stokes at mid-off.
Woakes and Willey maximized the new ball’s movement, creating numerous opportunities to beat the bat, thereby restricting India’s scoring options.
Chris Woakes troubled Shreyas Iyer (4) with fuller deliveries, and the batter sought a release when he saw a slightly shorter delivery, but he could only find the mid-on fielder.
KL Rahul arrived at the crease and, along with Rohit, steadied the innings. After surviving a challenging phase, they accelerated between overs 21-30, adding 58 runs to India’s total.
Rohit Sharma, in particular, took charge after reaching his half-century, striking four boundaries and a six in his next 20 deliveries.
Just when India appeared to be taking control of the game, David Willey returned to dismiss KL Rahul, who attempted to advance down the track but could only find Jonny Bairstow at mid-on.
Suryakumar Yadav’s arrival maintained the run flow as he unleashed a series of exquisite sweeps and pulls. However, England managed to strike at crucial moments, with Rohit falling while attempting an expansive stroke against Adil Rashid in the 37th over.
England sustained pressure through Rashid and Moeen Ali during the middle overs, with Willey and Wood returning to wreak havoc in the tail.
England’s response began brightly with Dawid Malan looking in good form. However, a brilliant double strike from Jasprit Bumrah halted England in their tracks, with Joe Root (0) following Malan (16) back to the pavilion.
India continued to exert pressure on England’s top order, as Ben Stokes, looking out of touch, had his stumps rearranged by Mohammed Shami for a ten-ball duck, while Jonny Bairstow also fell to Shami, leaving India in a commanding position.
Kuldeep Yadav further tightened the screws, dismissing Jos Buttler for ten runs from 23 balls, leaving England with none of their top five batsmen remaining.
England’s spin-bowling all-rounders fought to rebuild the innings, successfully rotating the strike and surviving for eight overs as the game settled.
However, Moeen Ali’s patient 15 from 31 balls was undone by Shami’s return. Shami produced a peach of a delivery, angling one in before it nipped away from the left-hander, finding the edge.
From that point onwards, England’s spirit was shattered. Chris Woakes charged down the wicket and was stumped off Ravindra Jadeja, while Liam Livingstone missed a shot into the leg side and was trapped lbw off Kuldeep, concluding his gutsy but scrappy 27, the highest score in England’s reply.
India’s bowling stars, Shami and Bumrah, stylishly wrapped up the match, with Shami dismissing Rashid and Bumrah executing a trademark yorker to account for Mark Wood, sealing the victory.
India’s impressive bowling performance led to a convincing victory over England, solidifying their position at the top of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 standings.
