In a remarkable display, India achieved a thrilling run-chase against West Indies, securing a spot in the semi-finals and eliminating their rivals from the T20 World Cup with a five-wicket triumph in their final Super 8s encounter.
A thrilling innings from Sanju Samson (97 not out off 50 balls), surpassing Virat Kohli’s record to achieve the highest score by an Indian batsman in a T20 World Cup chase, clinched victory by scoring 10 runs off the last two balls of the final over, matching the West Indies’ impressive total of 195 with just four deliveries remaining.
On Thursday, March 5th at 1:30pm (GMT), India will take on England in their T20 World Cup semi-final match in Mumbai, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
For a better video player experience, please use the Chrome browser. Sanju Samson achieved an impressive unbeaten score of 97, leading India to a five-wicket victory over West Indies, which secured them a spot in the semi-finals against England at the T20 World Cup.
For an enhanced video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Highlights from the T20 World Cup showcase India’s impressive victory over Zimbabwe by 72 runs, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals.
A strong middle-order performance from Jason Holder (37 not out off 22) and Rovman Powell (34 not out off 19) bolstered the valuable contributions of captain Shai Hope (32 off 33) and opener Roston Chase (40 off 25), enabling West Indies to set a formidable target of 195-4 against India.
Hope’s team found optimism after dismissing the struggling opener Abishek Sharma (10 runs off 11 balls) and number three Ishan Kishan (10 runs off 6 balls). However, captain Suryakumar Yadav (18 runs off 16 balls) was caught out in the 10th over, placing the home side in a challenging position.
The middle order of India proved resilient. Tilak Varma (27 runs off 15 balls) elevated the scoring rate, and the West Indies lamented Jason Holder’s missed catch of Hardik Pandya (17 runs off 16 balls) during the 16th over, as the quick-scoring no.6 formed a solid partnership with Samson.
The opener teamed up with a steady Shivam Dube (8 not out from 4 balls) to guide his team to victory, finishing his record-setting display with two decisive boundaries that thrilled the Kolkata audience.
England encounters well-known T20 World Cup rivals in India
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Enjoy the full highlights from Colombo, where Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed led England to a four-wicket victory against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.
India’s triumph today means that England will face India in their third consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final.
The teams have faced each other at this stage in the previous two tournaments, with England dominating their opponents by 10 wickets in Adelaide in 2022, while India avenged that loss with a 68-run victory in Guyana two years prior.
In both instances, the champions proceeded to claim the trophy, and India has arranged an eagerly awaited trilogy against Harry Brook’s team.
Just over a year has passed since India triumphed over England with a 4-1 victory in a bilateral T20 series, culminating in a dominant 150-run win at the Wankhede Stadium, the same venue where the teams are set to clash later this week.
Last February, India surged to a total of 247 for nine, bolstered by Abishek Sharma’s impressive 135, which surpassed the entire England team’s score as they were dismissed for a dismal 97.
India has triumphed in nine out of their last 12 T20 encounters with England, securing victory in five of the most recent six games.
Samson: A truly remarkable day in my life
Expectation: You always wish to remain in this phase
Image: Captain of the West Indies, Shai Hope (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Captain of the West Indies, Shai Hope:
"I believed we performed well in the tournament. Our ability to adjust to various conditions was impressive. Particularly, our bowling during the powerplay was effective. Akeal [Hosien] excelled, and [Gurkadesh] Motie also made a significant impact upon his return to the squad. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t secure the victory today.
"You never want to reach the conclusion at this point. Just one more match and we'd be in the semifinals, and if everything goes right, you'll find yourself in the final for the championship.
"We need to acknowledge the boys’ efforts. We hold ourselves to high expectations. There’s no other option for us. We must deliver our finest cricket on that day. We need to seize the critical moments and make the most of them."
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