India’s commanding 68-run victory over England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday has propelled them into the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, marking their first finals appearance in a decade. The ‘Men in Blue’ showcased an all-round performance to defeat the defending champions and set up a thrilling finale against South Africa.
A Rocky Start
India, sent in to bat first, encountered early turbulence as they lost key wickets during the power-play. Virat Kohli (9) and Rishabh Pant (4) were dismissed cheaply, leaving India precariously placed at 40 for 2 in 5.2 overs. England’s bowlers seemed poised to dominate early on.
Captain’s Knock and Steadying the Ship
However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, along with Suryakumar Yadav, steadied the innings with a crucial 73-run partnership. Rohit led from the front, scoring a brisk 57 off 39 balls, embellished with six boundaries and two towering sixes. Suryakumar supported well with his 47 off 36 balls, ensuring India recovered from their early setbacks.
Rohit’s innings was cut short by Adil Rashid, but not before he had set a solid foundation. Surya’s dismissal soon after saw India lose some momentum, but timely contributions from the middle order helped maintain the scoring rate.
Middle-Order Heroics
Hardik Pandya played a crucial cameo, adding 23 runs off just 13 balls, providing the much-needed impetus in the middle overs. In the death overs, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel combined to accelerate the scoring, pushing India to a competitive total of 171 for 7 in their 20 overs.
England’s Batting Collapse
England’s chase got off to a shaky start and never quite recovered. The Indian bowlers, adept at exploiting the turning track, dismantled the English batting line-up with clinical precision.
The spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc, each picking up 3 crucial wickets. Their strategic bowling decimated the English middle order, leaving the batsmen struggling to find their footing. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah added to England’s woes by taking 2 wickets, ensuring no lower-order fightback.
Comprehensive Victory
England’s innings folded at 103 runs in just 16.4 overs, marking a humiliating end to their semi-final hopes. India’s exceptional fielding complemented their efforts with the bat and ball, making it a comprehensive victory in all departments.
This victory also served as sweet revenge for India, who had lost to England in the semi-finals of the previous T20 World Cup edition. The triumph underscored India’s resurgence and determination to reclaim their dominance in T20 cricket.
Path to the Final
India, who won the inaugural edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, will now face South Africa in the final on June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The final promises to be a thrilling encounter as India aims to add a second T20 World Cup title to their illustrious cricketing history.
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