England crushes India to set up the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan: WORLD T20
WORLD CUP 2022
India had given a beating for the ages by England in the second semi-final of the World Cup 2022 in Adelaide on Thursday, a result that not only embarrassed their fans but also got disappointed Pakistan supporters by hoping for a dream final between the arch-rivals.
The Green Shirt held their deal by dominating New Zealand a day earlier to reach the final on Sunday, but Rohit Sharma and Co’s historical meltdown means it will be a Pakistan vs. England final.
Batting first, India did not have the best of starts but recovered well to post 168, which was less than what they would have liked but was still a decent total. However, what ensued was total
carnage and unexpected as Indian bowlers buckled under the weight of expectations.
Alex Hales (80) and Jos Buttler (86) were unstoppable, finishing unbeaten and handing India a resounding 10-wicket defeat.
Hardik Pandya scored 63 off 33 balls to power a competitive 168-6 Earlier.
Virat Kohli made 50, his fourth half-century of the tournament, and put on crucial partnerships, including a 61-run fourth-wicket stand with Pandya, who tore into the opposition attack in the
final overs.
England bowlers got discipline, with Chris Jordan having three wickets, but Pandya broke loose with a flurry of boundaries and smashed left-arm quick Sam Curran for 20 runs in the 19th over.
The winner will meet Pakistan, who defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday’s final.
England, who had two forced to change after Dawid Malan and Mark Wood missed out due to injuries, invited India to bat, and KL Rahul started with a cracking boundary Ben Stokes off.
Seamer Chris Woakes had caught Rahul behind with a rising delivery for 5.
Skipper Rohit Sharma hit four boundaries after a rough start as he and Kohli attempted to rebuild, but Jordan, in the side for Wood, broke through in his first over.
Jordan ended a 43-run partnership when Sharma mistimed to wide long-on with the score on 57, and India reached the halfway point at 62-2 off ten overs.
Suryakumar Yadav smashed a 6 and 4 off Stokes but soon fell to Adil Rashid’s leg-spinner for 14.
Kohli passed 4,000 T20 international runs with a boundary off Liam Livingstone, taking India’s total to 100-3 after 15 overs.
Kohli led to the tournament batting chart with 296 runs and reached 50 runs off 39 balls but fell next delivery to a sharp catch at third man by Rashid off Jordan.
Pandya was outhit by Jordan’s final ball of the innings, scoring four fours and five sixes before tripping over his stumps.
Alex Hales and Jos Buttler put on an unbeaten stand of 170 to help England defeat India by ten wickets in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Adelaide on
Alex Hales and Jos Buttler crushed India.
The England opening duo put on a stellar show in Adelaide as they moved on the charge against the Indian bowlers right from the beginning of their innings. It was Hales who shattered the
Indian bowlers earlier in the innings as Buttler played second fiddle. But the English skipper joined the party in the second half of the innings, sooner England got a firm grip on the match.
Their partnership helped England chase down 169 with all ten wickets and 24 balls to spare.
Hales remained unbeaten on 86 from just 47 deliveries, while Buttler scored from 49 deliveries.
Hardik Pandya’s outstanding knock helps India get to a competitive total.
Beforehand, India got a difficult start to their innings as they lost the wicket of KL Rahul. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma tried and built a partnership, but some tight bowling by the
England bowlers didn’t allow them to score at a fast rate.
Rohit departed for 27 from 28 deliveries in the 9th over of the innings, whereas Suryakumar Yadav also perished soon for 14. But Kohli and Pandya got stuck around and took the
game quite deep. Kohli got dismissed after scoring his fifty in the 18th over. But Pandya carried and acted aggressively to take India to a competitive score of 168/6 in their 20 overs.
Pandya’s efforts helped India add 68 runs in the last five overs, 54 of which came from Pandya’s bat.
WHAT NEXT?
England won against India, which helped them set up a T20 World Cup final against Pakistan. Both teams finished second from their groups in the Super 12s, and their chances of securing a semi-final spot at one stage looked highly doubtful. But both sides made a terrific comeback to reach the semi-final and go to the final match.
The two teams previously met in a World Cup final in 1992, which Pakistan won. England might be looking to set the record straight by lifting the trophy at the iconic MCG in Melbourne.
