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Overview
In a commanding display of cricketing prowess, India stormed into the T20 World Cup final with an emphatic 68-run victory over England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The victory was powered by standout performances from Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, who ensured India’s place in history as they prepare to meet South Africa, the other unbeaten team in this edition, in Barbados.
Setting the Stage
India were up against it after being asked to bat first—a scenario where they had lost five out of five in ICC tournaments since 2021. Despite this daunting history, India rose to the occasion. Handy contributions from Rohit Sharma, who scored a vital 57, and Suryakumar Yadav with 47 runs, set a competitive target. Notably, Axar Patel’s three-wicket haul with the new ball decimated England’s batting lineup and swung the momentum firmly in India’s favor.
Semifinal Decisive Moment: The First Innings
England’s captain Jos Buttler admitted that India’s first innings tipped the scales. England fell short, managing only 101 runs, decidedly below the 171-run target set by India. Buttler remarked that England let India score “20-25 runs too many,” indicative of the pressure they faced.
India capitalized on the pitch conditions, which got slower and lower, an aspect that worked to their advantage. Rohit Sharma’s prediction about the pitch favoring slower conditions came true, making it a tough chase for England. Despite a wet forecast that might have influenced Buttler’s decision to bowl first, this turned out to be a challenging move against India’s slow bowlers.
PowerPlay – Rohit’s Steady Hand
In the PowerPlay phase, India scored 46/2, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s aggressive start. Although Kohli struggled, managing only 9 runs, and Rishabh Pant fell short early, Rohit kept India’s scoreboard ticking by notching up four boundaries despite challenging conditions.
Middle Overs – The Rohit-Suryakumar Partnership
India’s middle overs saw a significant push from Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav, resulting in a 72/1 phase score. Their 73-run partnership, cut across a rain delay, maintained an impressive 8 runs per over (rpo). This period was critical as they punished any loose deliveries, particularly targeting Sam Curran for 19 runs in one over. Rohit’s aggression against Adil Rashid stood out, ending only after a deceptive googly from Rashid.
Death Overs – Jordan Impedes but India Rallies
During the death overs, India’s charge was somewhat impeded by Chris Jordan, who pulled off a brilliant catch to dismiss Suryakumar. Despite losing quick wickets, the resilient efforts of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, followed by Axar Patel, steered India to add 24 runs in the last two overs, culminating at 171/7.
England’s Innings – Axar’s Dominance in PowerPlay
England struggled from the onset. Axar Patel set the tone by dismissing Buttler with his first ball. England’s top order crumbled, managing only 39/3 during the PowerPlay. Axar’s dismissal of Jonny Bairstow who was bowled, and Bumrah’s breakthrough, set the game for India.
Middle Overs – Spin Triumphs
Kuldeep Yadav brought his A-game, spinning webs around England’s middle order. His significant scalps included Harry Brook, Sam Curran, and Chris Jordan, leaving England at a destitute 47/5. Axar continued his exploits by stumping Moeen Ali and running out Jofra Archer.
Death Overs – India Seals the Victory
By the death overs, the match was all but sealed. Suryakumar’s swift fielding saw the end of Rashid, and Bumrah’s final blow to Archer sealed England’s fate. England folded at 101 all out in 16.4 overs, ensuring India’s passage to their first T20 World Cup final in ten years.
Diverse Perspectives
While the Indian camp celebrated an extraordinary team effort, England’s camp reflected on missed opportunities and strategic missteps. Jos Buttler’s assessment of the pitch and underperformance highlighted the challenges of batting second on a slowing pitch. Experts also noted India’s strategic advantage in utilizing their spin arsenal effectively, a pivotal factor in their dominant performance.
Brief Scores
- India: 171/7 (Rohit 57, Suryakumar 47; Jordan 3-37)
- England: 101 all out in 16.4 overs (Brook 25; Kuldeep 3-19, Axar 3-23, Bumrah 2-12)
India now looks forward to clashing with South Africa in the highly-anticipated final in Barbados, aiming to etch their names in history.
This detailed account of the match can be found on the live score on ICC’s website, which provided minute-by-minute updates during the match. Click here for full match details.
For further insights and analyses, stay tuned to updates from the T20 World Cup 2024.
Also know about the previous match: 1. South Africa’s Triumph: Crushing Afghanistan to Reach First Men’s World Cup Final! (SA v/s AFG)
2. Rashid Khan & Naveen-ul-Haq: Heroes Behind Afghanistan’s Semifinal Triumph! (AFG v/s BAN)
3. Rohit and Kuldeep Team Up to Secure India’s Spot in T20 Semis, Head’s Big Effort Not Enough! (IND v/s AUS)
4. South Africa Stumbles but Holds Off West Indies to Clinch Semifinal Spot! (SA v/s WI)
5. England’s Hat-trick Hero Jordan, with Rashid and Buttler, Demolish Opponents to Secure Semifinal Spot! (ENG v/s USA)
