India’s dream run at the T20 World Cup 2024 continued as they thrashed defending champions England by a convincing 68 runs in a rain-affected semi-final on Wednesday.
The match at Providence, Guyana, was initially delayed due to rain, forcing a late start. After winning the toss, England surprisingly opted to field first.
India’s batting started shaky with star player Virat Kohli dismissed for just 9 runs and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant departing for a meager 4. However, captain Rohit Sharma (57 runs) and the in-form Surya Kumar Yadav (47 runs) steadied the ship with a crucial 87-run partnership for the third wicket.
Valuable contributions from Hardik Pandya (23 runs), Akshar Patel (10 runs), and Ravindra Jadeja (17* runs) helped India post a competitive total of 171 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs.
Chasing a challenging target, England’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure. None of their batsmen could build a significant partnership, with only Harry Brook (25 runs), Jos Buttler (23 runs), and Jofra Archer (21 runs) managing double digits.
The Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by the spin duo of Akshar Patel (3 wickets) and Kuldeep Yadav (3 wickets), ripped through the English batting order, dismissing them for a mere 103 runs in just 16.4 overs.
This dominant victory sends India soaring into the T20 World Cup final, marking their third appearance in the championship game.
They will now face South Africa, who secured their final spot earlier in the tournament, on June 29th. With both teams boasting exceptional talent and hunger for victory, the stage is set for an epic final!
