In Pictures: India thump England by 68 runs to storm into 2024 T20 World Cup final
A clinical Team India hammered England by 68 runs in the second semifinal of the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27. The Men in Blue will now take on South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on June 29. India will be looking to win their first ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
There were fears that the India-England semifinal in Guyana would be marred heavily due to rain. There was a delayed start due to rain and wet conditions. Another interruption followed in India's innings as they batted first. But once the sun came out, the match went on without any further delay.
Asked to bat first by England, the Men in Blue lost Virat Kohli for 9 as he was knocked over by left-arm pacer Reece Topley. Rishabh Pant (4) also fell cheaply, before he could gauge the conditions. Skipper Rohit Sharma (57 off 39) and Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 36) lifted India with a 73-run stand for the third wicket.
Rohit hit six fours and two sixes before he was cleaned up by a googly from Adil Rashid. Suryakumar's hard-fought knock featured four fours and two sixes. He fell to Jofra Archer, caught at long-on when trying to add some quick runs for the team. Hardik Pandya (23 off 13) struck consecutive sixes off Chris Jordan before perishing while attempting another big hit.
Jordan had two in two when Shivam Dube (0) was caught behind, poking one outside off stump. India, however, utilized their depth in batting to finish on 171-7.
Ravindra Jadeja hit an unbeaten 17 off 9 balls, while Axar Patel chipped in with 10 off 6, which included a one-handed six.
Axar, Kuldeep spin a web around clueless England
Chasing 172, England reached 26-0 after three overs. Axar (3-23), however, struck with the first ball of the fourth over, dismissing Jos Buttler for 23 off 15. The England captain attempted a premeditated reverse sweep, but the ball lobbed off the toe end to the keeper. It was the beginning of the end for the defending champions.
Jasprit Bumrah (2-12) added to his impressive wicket tally by knocking over Phil Salt (5) with a dipping off-cutter. At the other end, Axar dismissed Jonny Bairstow (0) and Moeen Ali (8) in quick succession. Bairstow missed one from the Indian left-arm spinner that came in with the angle, while Moeen was stumped down leg courtesy of a sharp piece of work by Pant.
After Axar's magic, it was time for the Kuldeep Yadav show. The left-arm wrist-spinner trapped Sam Curran (2) leg before with a skidder that went the other way. Harry Brook (25 off 19) attempted to take the fight into the Indian camp but was knocked over by Kuldeep as he went too far across his stumps.
Kuldeep had his third was Jordan (1) was trapped in front of the stumps as he tried to hit one across the line. Things went from bad to worse for England as Liam Livingstone (11) was run out following a complete mix-up with Archer (21).
Rashid was also run out courtesy of a brilliant one-handed flick from Suryakumar. Bumrah took the final wicket, trapping Archer leg before with a full and fast delivery. England were bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma reflects on memorable win against England
Speaking after the game, India captain Rohit admitted that he was very satisfied with the outcome of the semifinal. The 37-year-old added that his boys have worked very hard to achieve the results that are coming their way.
"Very satisfying to win the game. We have worked really hard as an unit and to win that game was special. We adapted to the conditions very well and that has been our success story. We have played the conditions very well. Very pleasing to see how we came though the game," Rohit said at the post-match presentation.
On the mega final against South Africa, the Indian skipper asserted that he is hopeful of the Men in Blue putting up another good show.
"I thought we were very steady today which has been the key to our success. When you are composed in your mind, it helps you. We will try our best. The team is in good shape and all I can hope is to put up another good show in the final," the Indian skipper concluded.
While India won the inaugural Men's T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa, the Proteas men will be featuring in their first-ever World Cup final.