World Cup 2023 | Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj Achieve 'This Record' With Early Stikes vs SL

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a wicket against SL at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah struck off the first ball of the Sri Lankan innings to send in-form opener Pathum Nissanka packing back to the pavilion. The pace maverick trapped Nissanka in front of stumps for a first-ball duck to push Sri Lanka on the backfoot early in their 357-run pursuit.

Moreover, his pace mate Mohammed Siraj also struck off his opening delivery of the spell the following over by entrapping Dimuth Karunaratne, also for a first-ball duck.

Through the course of their sublime new-ball gambits upfront, both Bumrah and Siraj have managed to scale a huge world record, as well as a national record in World Cup matches.

Bumrah, Siraj becomes first pair to achieve this record

Jasprit Bumrah accounted for Pathum Nissanka off the first ball of the innings to send in-form Sri Lankan opener packing back to the pavilion for a duck. Remarkably, Bumrah has now become the first Indian cricketer in history to pick up a wicket on the very first ball of the innings in an ODI World Cup match.

Moreover, considering Siraj also struck off his first ball the following over, both him and Bumrah have now marked the first instance of both opening bowlers taking opposition’s wickets off their first legal deliveries in any ODI match ever (where ball-by-ball data has been available).

Notably, Siraj also dismissed number four batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama for a four-ball duck in the same over, before cleaning up Kusal Mendis to extinguish Sri Lanka’s top-order at 3-4 within just four overs of the innings.

Chasing 358 runs to win, the match against tournament hosts India marks a must-win for Sri Lanka, if they are to entertain any chances of securing a top four finish.

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