Lucknow, UP : The Indian team hammered England by a convincing margin of 100 runs on Sunday. This victory not only extended India's unblemished record in the World Cup but also pushed the defending champions perilously close to elimination from the semi-final race.
Mohammed Shami spearheaded an electrifying bowling performance by bowling out England cheaply for 129 all out.
England, tasked with chasing a challenging target of 230 runs in Lucknow, crumbled to 129 all out in just 34.5 overs, marking their fifth defeat in six matches and leaving their title defense hanging by a thread, reliant on a miraculous turn of events.
In stark contrast, the hosts, with six wins in as many games, now stand on the precipice of securing a semi-final spot. Captain Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role, leading from the front with a commanding 87 runs. India posted a total of 229-9, which initially seemed modest but proved to be more than enough for a struggling England side grappling with a sluggish pitch.
Man of the match, Rohit Sharma, reflected on the victory, saying, "It was a great performance, and we would accept that win any day."
Mohammed Shami was the star of the day, ending with remarkable figures of 4-22, while fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah claimed three crucial wickets to seal the match, with the celebrations marked by fireworks illuminating the sky.
England's troubles began early in their chase, and they found themselves in dire straits at 52-5 after Bumrah's successive wickets, with the prospect of a hat-trick looming. Shami joined the wicket-taking spree, securing two more dismissals. While Jonny Bairstow managed to survive the hat-trick ball, England continued to lose wickets, with Ben Stokes falling to Shami's bowling, fueling India's hopes. The moment of jubilation arrived when Bairstow was bowled out for 14, and the 46,000-strong, predominantly Indian crowd erupted in celebration.
The procession of wickets continued as England's skipper, Jos Buttler, was bowled out by Kuldeep for a mere 10, and Shami dispatched Moeen Ali for 15, sealing England's fate.
In India's earlier innings, England's left-arm fast bowler, David Willey, delivered an impressive performance, securing figures of 3-45, including the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for a mere nine-ball duck. England had opted to bowl first.
Despite losing three early wickets, the Indian team, playing at home, was able to steady the ship, thanks to a crucial 91-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who contributed 39 runs. Rohit received a lifeline when he was given out lbw at 33 runs, but a review overturned the decision in his favor, showing that the ball would have missed the leg stump.
Rohit went on to notch his second half-century of the tournament, much to the delight of the nearly-packed 50,000-seater stadium. However, the partnership was eventually broken when Willey dismissed Rahul. Rohit acknowledged his role, stating, "I know I have the experience to handle various situations, not just by playing aggressive shots all the time. It was about using that experience to help the team and take the game as deep as possible. Even after that, I felt we were about 20 runs short."
Rohit's determined efforts were brought to an end by leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed his wicket as he holed out to deep mid-wicket, where Liam Livingstone took a low catch. Virat Kohli, enduring his 16th duck in ODIs, remains just one century away from matching the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 centuries in the 50-over format.
Suryakumar Yadav displayed resilience with a gritty 49 before becoming Willey's third victim. Nevertheless, the Indian tailenders ensured that the team completed their full quota of 50 overs.