India stormed into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final, defeating England by 68 runs at Providence Stadium, Guyana in a dazzling display of skill and strategy. The victory sets up a thrilling showdown against South Africa on Saturday at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Match Highlights:
- India posted 171/7, with Rohit Sharma scoring 57 and Suryakumar Yadav adding 47.
- Chris Jordan took 3-37 for England.
- England was bowled out for 103, with Harry Brook top-scoring with 25.
- Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each, leading India to a comprehensive victory.
India’s spinners played a crucial role in the victory, avenging their 2022 World Cup semi-final defeat to England. The Rohit Sharma-led side performed exceptionally, breaking England’s defence and dashing their hopes of defending their crown.
England’s start was promising, with captain Jos Buttler and Philip Salt easily finding the boundary. However, Arshdeep Singh kept things tight, and soon, Axar Patel’s introduction turned the tide. Axar dismissed Buttler for 23, followed by a series of wickets that saw England crumble under pressure.
Jasprit Bumrah joined the attack, taking down Salt with a perfect slower off-cutter. Axar continued to dominate, removing Jonny Bairstow for a three-ball duck. The Indian spinners were relentless, with Kuldeep Yadav joining the fray to remove Sam Curran and Harry Brook, ensuring England’s batting lineup fell apart.
Axar’s third wicket came with Moeen Ali’s dismissal, and Kuldeep sealed England’s fate by taking out Chris Jordan and causing a crucial mix-up leading to Liam Livingstone’s run-out. England eventually folded for 103, with Jofra Archer’s brief resistance ending with a couple of boundaries.
Earlier in the innings, India posted a competitive total of 171/7, thanks to notable contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (47) and Hardik Pandya (23 off 13).
India captain Rohit Sharma got off with a boundary in the first over. Rohit got a thick outside edge that went off for a boundary through point.
However, in the third over, India suffered a massive blow as Reece Topley hit the bail of the leg stump, sending out of-form batter Virat Kohli for 9.
India captain kept the aggressive approach going, hammering Topley for two boundaries, gathering 11 runs in the 5th over. After 5 over India’s score read 40/1.
Sam Curran brought his team back into the game as he removed Rishabh Pant, who played a poor shot that landed in the hands of Jonny Bairstow, waiting for this opportunity at short mid-wicket.
India were 65/2 after eight overs when rain stopped play for just over an hour, with Virat Kohli bowled by Reece Topley for 9, and Rishabh Pant caught by Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Sam Curran for just 4.
With a magnificent six Rohit brought up his back-to-back half-century. India captain Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav stitched up fifty runs to keep the team’s momentum going. The duo smoked Curran for 19 runs in the 13th over.
Adil Rashid broke a crucial 73-run partnership between the Indian duo, removing well-set batter Rohit for 57.
In the 18th overs, Hardik Pandya smoked Chris Jordan for back-to-back two maximums before the pacer struck back to remove India vice-captain for 23. On the very next ball, Jordan sent Shivam Dube packing for a duck.
A superb effort from Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja in the final two overs helps India post 171 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in Guyana. In the last over India managed to pick up 12 runs to post 171/7 thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 17.
Chris Jordan was England’s standout bowler, returning with figures of 3-37. However, it was not enough to contain the Indian batting onslaught.
India will now face South Africa in the final, hoping to clinch their first T20 World Cup title in a decade. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams showcasing top form throughout the tournament.
Brief Scores:
- India: 171/7 (Rohit Sharma 57, Suryakumar Yadav 47; Chris Jordan 3-37)
- England: 103 (Harry Brook 25, Jos Buttler 23; Axar Patel 3-23, Kuldeep Yadav 3-19)
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