India extends perfect record at World Cup
India extended its perfect run, and defending champion England continued its dreadful slump at the Cricket World Cup, undone this time by an opening spell of pace bowling from Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, according to The Associated Press.
India’s pace spearheads snared seven wickets between them to propel India to a 100-run win on Sunday, bowling England out for 129 in 34.5 overs.
That came after India had posted a seemingly meager 229-9, with Rohit Sharma contributing 87 from 101 deliveries.
Another lopsided loss leaves England languishing in last place with a solitary win from six games.
Host nation India leads the 10-team standings with six wins from six games, two points ahead of South Africa and four clear of Australia and New Zealand.
Shami and Bumrah shared five wickets in a fiery pace and seam movement exhibition in a six-over spell in the first powerplay and skittled the English top-order.
Shami returned with 4-22 from seven overs, and Bumrah had figures of 3-32 in 6.5, but player of the match honors went to opening batter Sharma for his innings which helped India recover from a difficult start. India slipped to 40-3 in the 12th over before Sharma combined with Lokesh Rahul (39) and then Suryakuma Yadav (49) to rebuild.
“Creating a partnership with Rahul after our start in the first 10 overs was important. I still felt we were 20-30 runs short at the halfway stage … but I will take this win any day,” Sharma said.
Chasing 230, England faltered after its openers put on 30 runs.
Bumrah bowled Dawid Malan in the fifth over for 16. The next ball, Joe Root was out lbw for a golden duck – plumb in front, shuffling across the stumps. His DRS appeal was unsuccessful.
Bumrah’s hat trick was denied before Shami set up a chance at his hat trick at the other end. His opening overs were nearly unplayable as Ben Stokes struggled to put bat to ball.
Stokes went for a slog and was bowled in the eighth over for a 10-ball duck. Jonny Bairstow was out to the first ball of Shami’s next over as England slumped to 39-4 in the 10th, having lost four wickets for nine runs across 26 balls.
After a drinks break, it was Spin’s turn. Despite heavy dew, Kuldeep Yadav bowled England captain Jos Buttler for 10. Buttler had no clue as the ball turned in sharply off a length, leaving England at 52-5.
Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone added 29 runs for the sixth wicket – the second-highest partnership of England’s innings. But the pressure never eased.
Shami returned for another spell to have Ali (15) caught behind, and Ravindra Jadeja had Chris Woakes (10) stumped in the 29th over.
Yadav then trapped Livingstone lbw – out for 27 – as England crashed to 98-8.
England managed to reach 100, but it was small consolation as Shami-Bumrah returned to finish proceedings.
“At the halfway stage, chasing 230 and seeing how wet it got (dew), we fancied ourselves … (but) same old story,” Buttler said.
“There wasn’t scoreboard pressure. We needed to overcome the initial phase (against the new ball) and needed to build partnerships.
“We are falling short whichever way we are doing it now.”
India’s top-order batters had struggled early, too, but dug in by slowing the tempo.
Woakes bowled Shubman Gill (9) in the fourth over and India slid to 27-2 three overs later when Virat Kohli chipped to mid-on and was out for a nine-ball duck off David Willey.
Woakes sent back Shreyas Iyer (4), out caught pulling a short ball, to make the total 40-3 in 11.5 overs.
Sharma and Rahul resisted with a 91-run stand for the fourth wicket in their 111-ball partnership.
The usually hard-hitting Sharma played innings of great control. He did survive an lbw shout early on, but the ball was gliding past leg stump on DRS review.
At the other end, Rahul scored 39 off 58, with three fours, but fell against the run of play. Willey returned to dismiss him in the 31st, as Rahul mistimed a pull shot.
Wrist spinner Adil Rashid bowled with great control for England, taking 2-35 in 10 overs. His first wicket was vital to hold back India’s score – Sharma holed out to deep midwicket.
At 164-5, India was again in trouble, but Suryakumar Yadav helped push the score past 200.
His 49 from 47 balls contained four boundaries and a six and he worked with the tailenders to bolster the total.