Former Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath tipped Mohammed Shami’s bowling performance of 4-22 against England at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Sunday as the best of the ongoing World Cup 2023.
India could only manage 229 runs on the board after Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to field first. One got the feeling that it was a below-par score but India’s pace battery was right on the money as they breathed down the neck of England’s batters.
Shami had Ben Stokes dancing to his tunes as he went past the left-hander’s outside edge on numerous occasions before ending his plight at the crease. The right-arm pacer then had Jonny Bairstow chopping the ball back onto his stumps. Shami produced Moeen Ali’s outside edge and had him caught by wicket-keeper KL Rahul and then got the ball to reverse to rattle Adil Rashid’s stumps at the fag end.
The veteran fast bowler was right on the money and he has now taken 40 wickets in World Cup history. The pacer leapfrogged Allan Donald, Jacob Oram, and Daniel Vettori’s tally of wickets in the World Cup.
“Best bowling performance of this #CWC23 without any doubt! @MdShami11 #INDvENG.” Badrinath posted on ‘X’.
On the other hand, the early damage was done by India’s pack leader, Jasprit Bumrah. The gun fast bowler had Dawid Malan chopping the ball back to his stumps whereas he plumbed Joe Root in front of the wickets. Bumrah (3-32) then dismissed Mark Wood towards the end to play an instrumental role in skittling out England at 129 and thus India won comprehensively by 100 runs.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan called Bumrah the most skillful bowler in the world.
“Bumrah is the most skillful bowler in the world!,” Pathan posted on ‘X’.
With this win, India are on the cusp of qualifying for the semifinals. India will next take on Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.
