Mohammed Shami Blazes Past Starc, Malinga For Huge Record With 7/57  In Semifinal

Mohammed Shami celebrates a wicket in the 2023 World Cup semifinal (AP)

Mohammed Shami, after going wicketless against Netherlands, accounted for each of New Zealand’s top four batters in the semifinal of the 2023 World Cup. The speedster dismissed the likes of Devon Conway, in-former Kiwi opener Rachin Ravindra, captain Kane Williamson and his deputy Tom Latham to give India an early advantage in the knockout fixture.

Shami’s wicket-taking spree at the Wankhede Stadium also handed him a huge World Cup record, one which was previously held by Mitchell Starc and Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga.

Mohammed Shami achieves huge World Cup record

Mohammed Shami has now completed 50 wickets in World Cup matches through the course of his latest spell against New Zealand in the 2023 semi-final. Remarkably, the speed veteran became the fastest cricketer in history to achieve the landmark figure, in terms of matches as well as in terms of number of balls bowled.

Australian speedster Mitchell Starc held the previous record by attaining the milestone in 941 delivers. Former Sri Lankan captain and legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga completed his 50 wickets in 1,187 balls.

Mohammed Shami, on the other hand, raced to his 50 World Cup wickets from just 795 deliveries.

Interestingly, Shami notched up his 50th World Cup wicket in just his 17th innings for Team India.

The cricketer also catapulted his World Cup 2023 tally to 20 wickets, as he is currently placed at number three in the leading wicket-taking race of the ongoing tournament, just behind the likes of Australian spinner Adam Zampa (22 wickets) and Sri Lankan new-ball speedster Dilshan Madushanka (21 wickets).

Shami eventually dismissed New Zealand's centurion Daryl Mitchell to snare yet another five-fer, his third of the ongoing tournament.

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