India become first team to secure semi-final spot
The tournament hosts have been in superb form during the Cricket World Cup, and their 302-run win over Sri Lanka on Thursday earned Rohit Sharma’s side a guaranteed spot in the knockout stages.
Magical India register record win | Match Highlights | CWC23
Match Highlights of the India-Sri Lanka game. India won their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter against Sri Lanka by 302 runs, a World Cup record win for them.
India have two further group-stage fixtures to come, against South Africa in Kolkata and Netherlands in Bengaluru, but cannot be mathematically denied a top-four spot having won all seven of their matches so far.
The remainder of the semi-final lineup is yet to be determined, with Pakistan and Afghanistan still in the mix, just two points behind Australia and New Zealand in the standings.
But India can now begin to look ahead to the crunch knockout fixtures in a fortnight’s time.
A win over South Africa next up would leave India certain of finishing top of the table, which would see them play in the first semi-final on 15 November against the team that finishes fourth in the final group standings.
India dominate Sri Lanka to seal semi-final spot | Digital Daily: Episode 33 | CWC23
Digital Daily looks at India thumping Sri Lanka to lock in their place in the knockout stages during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, with Australia legend Ricky Ponting and ICC Digital Insider Tanvi Shah