Axar Patel, nicknamed Bapu, takes three brilliant catches to dismiss big-hitters Harry Brook, Phil Salt and Will Jacks, restricting England’s spirited march towards massive 254-run target as India escape with 7-run win in thrilling semi-final; Samson’s 42-ball 89 is overshadowed by Bethell’s 48-ball 105
India’s Axar Patel (left) relays a catch to teammate Shivam Dube at the boundary line to dismiss England’s Will Jacks at the Wankhede Stadium. Pic.PTI
Jacob Bethell conjured the innings of a lifetime, but his maiden 20-over century was just enough as India won through to the final of the T20 World Cup on an exciting, tense, run-soaked Thursday night at Wankhede.
Until Bethell was around — he was run out off the first ball of the last over which England began needing 30 for victory — India’s massive 253-7, built around Sanju Samson’s blazing 89, didn’t appear enough. But the hosts pulled things back superbly through Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube closed out the last over as Suryakumar Yadav’s men sneaked home seven runs.
Sanju Samson during his 42-ball 89 against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Pic/Atul Kamble
Despite the loss of wickets during a frenzied start, England kept in touch with the required rate on a belter with the left-handed Bethell holding fort.
Alongside Will Jacks, Bethell put on 77 in 39 deliveries when Axar Patel held his second great catch of the night, though the score book will show that Dube took the catch because Axar relayed the ball to his colleague as he was going out of the field of play.
India regrouped and charged back after that, doing just enough to set up a Sunday date in Ahmedabad with New Zealand.
In the evening, clearly lifted by his sensational knock in Kolkata against West Indies, Samson was in his elements from the outset, smacking Jofra Archer for four and then pulling him over mid-wicket for a massive six.
Abhishek Sharma’s woes against off-spin, however, continued as he tonked Jacks to wide long-on in the second over. But India were hardly pegged back as Samson, dropped on 15 by Harry Brook at mid-off off Archer, tore into the bowling with Ishan Kishan a willing ally.
Runs came in a torrent, Kishan not content to just sail in his partner’s wake. When the latter fell after a stand of 97, India pushed Dube (43 off 25 balls) up so that the powerful local lad could go after spin.
16
No. of sixes smashed by Sanju Samson in the ongoing tournament — the most by an Indian in T20 World Cups
105
No. of runs scored by Jacob Bethell on Thursday — the highest individual score T20 World Cup knockouts
253-7
No. of runs scored by India on Thursday — the highest by any team in T20 World Cup knockouts
19
No. of sixes smashed by India on Thursday — their highest in a T20 World Cup innings
88
Total sixes by India in the ongoing tournament — the most by any team in a T20 World Cup
Brief scores
India 253-7 in 20 overs (S Samson 89, S Dube 43, I Kishan 39; W Jacks 2-40, A Rashid 2-41) beat England 246-7 in 20 overs (J Bethell 105, W Jacks 35; H Pandya 2-38) by seven runs
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