India are just one win away from creating history after a dominant performance against the defending T20 World Cup champions and Rohit Sharma and his team-mates set up a title race against South Africa. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel picked three wickets each to lead India into contention for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup title against South Africa. This was after they edged defending champions England by 68 points in the second semi-final at Providence Stadium.
After captain Rohit Sharma hit his 32nd T20I fifty with 57 off 39 balls and Suryakumar Yadav struck 47 off 36 balls to help India post a competitive 171/7 on a sticky pitch, brilliant spells from Axar and Kuldeep led England to a slump when they were bowled out for 103.
Rohit Sharma was emotional after the win.
Rohit Sharma shed tears of happiness and relief. pic.twitter.com/0JJ78FDOVg
— Dr. Poornima (@PoornimaNimo) June 27, 2024
Rohit Sharma was thrilled with his semi-final win.
– Virat Kohli took on him! pic.twitter.com/JMVT2qFx2q
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 27, 2024
Adelaide’s tears for Guyana’s proud captain.
– This is captain Rohit Sharma’s salvation. pic.twitter.com/ZVpVWBdnX0
— Jones (@CricCrazyJohns) June 27, 2024
Chasing 172, Jos Buttler hit four runs, including three from Arshdeep, and gave England a strong start by scoring 26 runs in the first three overs. But Axar and Jasprit Bumrah combined forces to wreak havoc for England. Off Axar’s first ball, Buttler attempted a reverse sweep but gave the top edge to keeper Rishabh Pant.
Bumrah took out an off-cutter to rattle Phil Salt’s leg-stump, and as England ended the powerplay on 39/3, Axar stayed low and hit Bairstow’s off-stump to dismiss him for a duck.
Moeen Ali tried to flick Axar but the ball landed on his thigh pad and as he wandered out of the crease, Pant gathered the ball and beat him quickly.
Kuldeep further pushed England back when he caught Sam Curran lbw at middle stump, reverse-sweeping Harry Brook at leg stump and then used spin again to catch Chris Jordan lbw.
When Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid were ruled out of play due to the confusion and Bumrah caught Jofra Archer lbw, there were jubilant scenes as the specter of Adelaide 2022 was completely banished from Guyana 2024 and the dominant India’s bid to clinch an elusive trophy came to an end. The dream still remained.
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