India Beats England by 7 Runs in T20 World Cup Semi Despite Bethell Century
MUMBAI — India secured a place in the T20 World Cup final with a seven-run victory over England in a high-scoring semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5, according to match officials and tournament organizers .
The defending champions posted a total of 253 for seven in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first, the highest score in a men’s T20 World Cup knockout match . England, in reply, finished on 246 for seven despite a century from Jacob Bethell .
India will face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8 .
England Opt to Bowl First
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to field, citing the chasing-friendly conditions at the Wankhede Stadium . India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav said he would have chosen to bat first regardless, according to comments reported by ESPNcricinfo .
England made one change to their playing XI, bringing seamer Jamie Overton into the side in place of leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed . India fielded an unchanged team .
Samson’s 89 Anchors India’s Innings
India lost Abhishek Sharma for nine in the second over of the innings, caught by Phil Salt off the bowling of Jofra Archer . Sanju Samson, who survived a chance on 15 when Brook dropped a catch at mid-off, then combined with Ishan Kishan for a second-wicket partnership of 97 runs from 45 deliveries .
Samson reached his half-century from 26 balls and scored 89 from 42 deliveries before being caught in the deep off Will Jacks in the 14th over . His innings included seven sixes and eight fours . Kishan contributed 39 from 18 balls .
Shivam Dube scored 43 from 25 balls, adding 43 runs with Samson for the third wicket . Late contributions from Hardik Pandya, who made 27 from 12 balls, and Tilak Varma, who scored 21 from seven deliveries, pushed India past 250 . India scored 76 runs in the final five overs .
For England, Adil Rashid and Will Jacks each took two wickets . Archer finished with figures of one for 61 from his four overs .
Bethell’s Century Keeps England in Contention
England’s chase began with the loss of three wickets inside the powerplay, leaving them at 68 for three after six overs . Phil Salt scored five, Jos Buttler 25, and Brook seven .
Bethell, aged 22, then constructed an innings of 105 from 48 balls, his first century in T20 international cricket . He struck seven sixes and eight fours during his innings . Will Jacks provided support with 35 from 20 balls, adding 77 runs with Bethell for the fifth wicket .
The partnership was broken when Axar Patel took a catch running backward at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Jacks . Earlier in the innings, Patel had also taken a catch running back from cover to dismiss Brook .
Jasprit Bumrah bowled the 16th over, conceding six runs . The equation came down to 45 runs required from the final three overs .
Final Overs Decide the Match
With 30 runs needed from the final over, Bethell was run out attempting to retain the strike . Sam Curran had been dismissed earlier in the 19th over, caught for 18 .
Jamie Overton was at the crease with Bethell at the time of the run-out. Jofra Archer struck three sixes in the final over, but England finished on 246 for seven, seven runs short of the target .
For India, Hardik Pandya took two wickets for 38 runs from his three overs . Bumrah finished with figures of one for 33 from his four overs .
Match Statistics
According to official match data, India’s innings included 19 sixes and 18 fours . The aggregate of 499 runs across 40 overs is one of the highest in T20 World Cup history .
Sanju Samson was named player of the match .
Post-Match Comments
Samson, speaking at the post-match presentation, credited Bumrah for his bowling at the death .
England head coach Shukri Conrad described his team’s performance as a “proper hiding” in comments to reporters, adding that the team had chosen a “crappy time to have a bad night” . The reference is to the version of the article published elsewhere, not the BBC version.
England’s tournament concludes with this defeat. Their next scheduled international fixture is the first Test against New Zealand in June .
With inputs from:
BBC Sport: India reach final Bethell century
ESPNcricinfo: India vs England live semi
GTV News: India beat England 7 runs
Asianet: India nail-biting win
ICC: England bowl first
Global Sports Systems, Major Leagues & Sports Economics Explained.
Allen’s Record-Breaking Century Propels New Zealand to T20 World Cup Final After Demolishing South Africa and Skipper Brook’s Record Century Powers England into T20 World Cup Semi-Finals After Nervy Win Over Pakistan.
