IND vs ENG: India Power Into Back-to-Back T20 World Cup Finals, Edge England By 7 Runs In Wankhede Thriller
Mumbai: Defending champions India booked their place in a second consecutive T20 World Cup final after a nail-biting seven-run victory over England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
The Men in Blue, who are chasing history as they look to become the first team ever to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title, will now face New Zealand in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
India’s Batting Masterclass
Put in to bat, opener Sanju Samson announced his arrival in emphatic fashion, launching a blistering 42-ball 89 laced with seven sixes and eight fours. His pyrotechnics set the platform for a formidable total as India posted 253 on the board. Shivam Dube (43), Ishan Kishan (39), Hardik Pandya (27), and Tilak Varma (21) all made quick-fire contributions to propel India to a daunting total.
Bethell’s Brilliant Ton Not Enough
Chasing an imposing 254, England mounted a fierce challenge through Jacob Bethell’s sensational century a 48-ball 105 that kept the contest alive deep into the final overs. However, the effort ultimately fell short as England were restricted to 246 for seven in their 20 overs, leaving India to celebrate a hard-fought passage to the final.
Jasprit Bumrah was India’s standout bowler, returning figures of 1 for 33, while Hardik Pandya chipped in with two crucial wickets for 38 runs. Arshdeep Singh (1/51), Axar Patel (1/35), and Varun Chakravarthy (1/64) also picked up a wicket apiece.
For England, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming two wickets — Jacks finishing with 2 for 40 and Rashid with 2 for 41 — but the total proved too steep for the defending runners-up.
India now march into the final, one win away from lifting the T20 World Cup trophy for a historic third time.