PC: (Jagran Josh, Mykhel)
In a pulsating semi-final of the T20 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday, India held their nerve to defeat England by 7 runs and book their place in the final. The two teams combined for a record 499 runs in a men’s T20 World Cup match-the highest ever. Powered by Sanju Samson’s explosive innings, India posted 253/7, while England fought back valiantly but finished at 246/7. India will now face New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Sanju Samson Delivers Yet Another Clutch Performance
Despite not featuring regularly in the star-studded line-up earlier in the tournament, Sanju Samson has stepped up in the biggest games. Following his match-winning 97* against West Indies in the final Super Eight clash, the right-hander produced another masterclass with a blistering 89 off 42 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes) to set up India’s towering total.
Samson Sets the Tone on a Batting Paradise Pitch
Put in to bat, Samson attacked from ball one, smashing back-to-back boundaries off Jofra Archer in the first over to give India early momentum. Dropped on 15 by England captain Harry Brook at mid-on off Archer, Samson made the tourists pay dearly. On a flat Wankhede surface, he and his teammates entertained the crowd with relentless strokeplay. India ended the powerplay at 67/1, and Samson reached his fifty in just 26 balls by carving a flighted delivery from Liam Dawson inside-out over extra cover for six.
Strong Partnerships and All-Round Firepower
Samson forged a 97-run stand in 45 balls with Ishan Kishan and added 43 runs in 22 balls with Shivam Dube. Contributions came throughout the order: Kishan blazed 39 off 18, Dube smashed 43 off 25, Hardik Pandya made a quick 27 off 12, and Tilak Varma chipped in with 21 off 7. India hammered 19 sixes and 18 fours, collecting 186 runs in boundaries alone.
Jacks Shines with the Ball for England
Will Jacks was England’s most effective bowler, claiming the early wicket of Abhishek Sharma and later removing the dangerous Samson. Jofra Archer endured a tough day, leaking 61 runs in his four overs while picking up only the wicket of Tilak Varma.
England’s Brave Chase Falls Just Short
Chasing a record T20 World Cup target of 254, England lost early wickets-Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Harry Brook were back in the pavilion inside the first six overs. Hardik Pandya struck first ball to dismiss Salt, while Jasprit Bumrah removed Brook thanks to a superb running catch by Axar Patel at backward point. Buttler looked in good touch with 25 off 17 before Varun Chakravarthy bowled him with a googly, reducing England to 68/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Jacob Bethell’s Heroic Century Keeps England Alive
Despite the top-order collapse, England kept the required rate under control, reaching 100 in just 8.1 overs-the second-fastest team hundred in T20 World Cup knockouts. Jacob Bethell took the attack to India, launching his innings with three successive sixes off Chakravarthy and maintained the momentum throughout. He added 77 runs in 39 balls with Will Jacks before a brilliant piece of fielding ended the stand-after three successive wides, Arshdeep Singh found the right line outside off, Jacks sliced it over cover, Axar Patel ran in from deep, parried the ball before crossing the rope, and tossed it to Shivam Dube to complete the relay catch.
Bethell Falls in the Final Over as India Hold On
Bethell carried England deep into the chase, scoring a magnificent 105 off 48 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes), but was run out in the final over. In the end, Jasprit Bumrah’s economical death bowling and India’s superior fielding-particularly Axar Patel’s heroics-proved decisive as England finished 7 runs short at 246/7. India now head to Ahmedabad to face New Zealand in the final, where they will aim to become the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup, the first team to successfully defend the title, and the first to claim three T20 World Cup crowns.