India 171 for 7 (Rohit 57, Surya Kumar 47, Jordan 3-37) beat England 103 (Brook 25, Kuldeep 3-19, Axar 3-23) by 68 runs:
India’s cricket team continued their dominant run in the 2024 T20 World Cup, thrashing arch-rivals England by a massive 68 runs in the semi-final clash at Providence, Guyana. This emphatic victory sets up a mouthwatering final against South Africa.
Setting the Tone on a Difficult Pitch
Guyana’s sluggish pitch with minimal bounce presented a challenge for batsmen. Scoring opportunities were limited, making runs behind the square and straight down the wicket even more valuable. England’s attempt to restrict half the field backfired somewhat, as India managed a brisk 69 runs (including 8 fours and 3 sixes) from these areas at a strike rate of 192.
Rohit Sharma Leads by Example
During the powerplay, Rohit Sharma displayed a more aggressive approach, scoring at a strike rate of 133 even if some shots were not entirely under control. This shift in mindset, where batsmen look to score even off “good” deliveries, is a welcome change for the Indian team. Rohit eventually settled down, playing with better control and finding the boundary more frequently to reach a well-made 57.
Spinners Take Center Stage
While Adil Rashid initially struggled against the movement of the Indian batsmen, he cleverly adjusted his bowling after the rain break. He started bowling a tighter line and off-stump, a tactic that paid off with the wicket of Rohit Sharma. However, with Rashid out of the attack by the 14th over, India held back Shivam Dube, believing their quicks would be more effective. This gamble backfired as England’s part-time spinner Liam Livingstone proved very economical, conceding only 24 runs in his 4 overs.
Axar Patel Spins a Web
Knowing Guyana’s pitch would favor spin, India fielded three spinners, and each played a crucial role. Axar Patel emerged as the game-changer. Introduced immediately after Jos Buttler threatened with three fours in an over, Axar removed the dangerous England captain with his very first ball. He went on to take three wickets in his first three overs, all off the first ball, completely derailing the English batting line-up.
Kuldeep Yadav Exacts Revenge
Kuldeep Yadav, who was dropped by India after the 2019 ODI World Cup, had a chance to redeem himself against England, the team that heavily criticized his bowling earlier. He didn’t disappoint. He got the better of both Sam Curran and Harry Brook with clever bowling variations, bamboozling the batsmen with his guile.
England’s Dismal Batting Display
With their top order dismantled by India’s spin attack, England’s chase never really got going. Only Harry Brook managed to reach 25 runs, while the rest of the batting order succumbed to spin or poor shot selection. A run-out further dented their hopes, and they were eventually bowled out for a meager 103 runs.
India Marches On
This convincing victory propels India into the T20 World Cup 2024 final. They will now face a formidable South African team, but their dominant performance against England has sent a strong message to all contenders.