ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

02 Nov 2023

Mohammed Shami scripted World Cup history for India in Mumbai on Thursday as the senior fast bowler joined Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan on top of the wicket-takers tally for the 2-time champions. Shami breathed fire at the Wankhede Stadium, coming in as a first-change bowler as the Indian pace trio of him, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah tore into the Sri Lankan batting unit in their World Cup 2023 match.

Mohammed Shami picked up 4 wickets in his first 3 overs as he came up with an unplayable spell of fast bowling. Shami was brought into the attack in the 10th over the Sri Lankan chase. By the time Shami got the new ball in his hand, the chase was already done and dusted as Sri Lanka slipped to 3 for 4 before recovering to 14 for 4.

Shami finished his first spell with a 5-wicket haul, his 3rd in World Cup history. He equalled Mitchell Starc on top of the list of bowlers with most 5-wicket hauls in World Cups.

Shami took his World Cup tally to 45 wickets in just his 14th match in the 50-over showpiece event. Zaheer Khan took 23 matches to get to 44 wickets in World Cups while Srinath finished with 44 in 34 matches.

Shami has played only 3 matches in World Cup 2023 for India and he already has 14 wickets.

MOST WORLD CUP WICKETS FOR INDIA
Mohammed Shami - 45 in 14 matches*
Zaheer Khan - 44 in 23 matches
Javagal Srinath - 44 in 34 matches
Jasprit Bumrah - 33 in 16 matches
Anil Kumble - 31 in 18 matches
Kapil Dev - 28 in 26 matches

Mohammed Shami struck twice in his first over as he removed Charith Asalanka and Dushan Hemantha. Shami was on a hat-trick for the second time in this World Cup as he piled up the agony on the Sri Lankan side which looked clueless after India posted 357 on the board.

Shami struck again in his second over, getting Dushmantha Chameera for 0 caught down the leg-side. KL Rahul's brilliant DRS call helped overturn the on-field call of wide. It was not over from the World Cup hero for India as Shami cleaned up Angelo Mathews in the first delivery of his 3rd over, ending the Sri Lankan veteran's attempt at resisting the Indian bowling charge.

Shami got his 5th wicket in his 5th over, getting Kasun Rajitha who hit a valiant 14 in the middle.

It was a sensational show from India's pacers at the venue of the 2011 World Cup final. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the first delivery of the innings, becoming the first Indian to do so in a World Cup match. Mohammed Siraj struck twice in his first over, continuing from where he left against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final earlier in the year.

Siraj added one more to his tally in his first spell as he got the Sri Lanka captain out for 1 with a sensational outswinger. Sri Lnaka were reduced to 3 for 4 as they had no clue to the new-ball bowlers. There was no respite for Sri Lanka as Shami, the first-change bowler, picked up 4 wickets in his first spell.