Watch: Jasprit Bumrah pinned Pathum Nissanka lbw with the first ball of the Sri Lanka innings to spark a dramatic collapse, with some terming the delivery the best of the World Cup so far.
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Having made 357-8 batting first, Bumrah began the defence in scintillating style, straightening his first ball dramatically back down the wicket to smash the Sri Lanka opener on the pad.
Nissanka was fully squared up but still chose to review. Ball-tracking showed that it would have hit the top of the stumps, and Nissanka had to go on his way.
The delivery was instantly hailed as perhaps the best of the competition to date, including by former India seamer Irfan Pathan.
Ball of the World Cup by @Jaspritbumrah93 this to get rid of Pathum Nissanka 👏 #INDvSL
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 2, 2023
Sri Lanka then slid to 22-7 to continue their struggles in this World Cup, and against India. They were bowled out for 51 in the Asia Cup final, at one point being 12-6 in that innings.
Mohammed Siraj capitalised on the opening to take three wickets for no run, giving him, at one point, figures of 9-21 against Sri Lanka since the start of that continental final. Then Mohammed Shami came in and shone too, recording figures of 3-1 from his first two overs.
Watch the Jasprit Bumrah ‘Ball of the World Cup’ below:
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